'I want to know why so many roadworks are taking place as drivers head to the AIG Women's Golf Open'
Disruption comes as tens of thousands expected at AIG Women’s Open
A Lancashire county councillor is pressing County Hall for answers on why so many sets of roadworks are taking place as thousands of visitors flock into Fylde.
As the AIG Women’s Open golf tournament opened at the Royal Lytham and St Annes course this week, County Coun Peter Buckley was shocked to see a series of disruptions for driver in key routes into the area.
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Temporary traffic lights are in place at Queensway, key gateway to St Annes and Lytham from Blackpool, until November for changes to the entrance to the Richmond Point housing development opposite Kilnhouse Lane, which is closed to traffic until September.
Meanwhile, drivers in the centre of St Annes face three-way traffic lights at the junction of St Annes Road West and Clifton Drive, while Cropper Road, close to the M55, is closed and earlier this week, drivers found the northbound Lytham St Annes Way at Peel shut.
County Cllr Buckley, who represents St Annes North as a member of the Conservative opposition on the Reform-led County Council, said: “I want to know why this work has all been allowed to take place at possibly the busiest week of the year for visitors.”
He said he had raised the question of the Queensway works a couple of months ago, as Lytham Festival was then upcoming a few weeks before the AIG Women’s Open.
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“I wrote to LCC Highways then about the temporary traffic lights at the Queensway / Kilnhouse Lane junction, asking what extra mitigation measures would be in place during the periods of the two major events to cater for the extra traffic volumes and prevent long tailbacks.
“The reply I received from LCC Highways stated that they were aware that those events would increase traffic demand in the area.
“They added they were working with Rowland Homes and their contractor to plan for those periods, including reducing construction activity where possible to help minimise additional disruption on the network.
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“They said they fully recognise that works of this scale can be disruptive, particularly over an extended period, and they appreciate the patience of local residents and businesses while the necessary improvements are delivered.
“But we now have a further road closure on the northbound lane of Lytham St Annes Way at the School Road roundabout diverting traffic along Whitehill Road.
“This is compounding an already difficult situation with the Cropper Road diversion and Queensway roadworks.
“I have therefore again written to LCC Highways and the Cabinet Member responsible to ask why this has all been allowed to take place at possibly the busiest week of the year for visitors and I await their response.”