Roadworks U-turn delight

A mum is jumping for joy after succeeding in her bid to prevent roadworks causing exam stress.
There were fears over traffic delays in ThorntonThere were fears over traffic delays in Thornton
There were fears over traffic delays in Thornton

Tracey Cryer, from Thornton, was worried that works planned for Fleetwood Road South would pile extra pressure on students due to take their A-level and GCSE exams.

The road was set to close for a fortnight with works originally due to start today.

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Tracey was worried traffic jams en-route to Blackpool Sixth Form College and Hodgson High School in Poulton would have added to the pressure on her own children and launched an online petition calling for the works to be moved.

And now developers Melrose, the firm responsible for the closure, has agreed to carry out the closure outside of school time.

The works will now begin on May 30, during the half term holidays, much to the delight of petition-writer Tracey.

She said: “I would like to thank The Gazette, Lancashire County Council and Melrose for listening to my appeal.

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“Many people are pleased at the outcome, with the firm agreeing to delay the road closure until the school holidays.

“This benefits everyone going to work as well as our children doing exams.

“I’m sure the bus companies will be pleased as well. The impact would have been especially bad on the number 14, used by a lot of sixth form students and school buses.

“These works will have had an effect on people travelling all the way from Fleetwood, not just from Thornton.”

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The Gazette contacted Lancashire County Council over the concerns raised by Tracey and more than 70 others who signed her petition.

Following discussions between the highways team at County Hall and Melrose, which is midway through a major new development on a former council nursery site in Thornton, it was agreed to delay the works.

A spokesman said: “We would like to confirm that the road closure has been postponed until week commencing May 30.

“Unfortunately the road closure is essential to complete the works in a safe environment, if we complete the works earlier than programmed we will aim to re-open the road early.

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“As soon as the issue was brought to our attention by Lancashire County Council we have worked together to resolve the problem.

“As a local construction company we take community issues seriously and where possible will work together to solve problems.”

The works involve installation of a new manhole and pipes linked to the development.