'Rat run' drivers speeding at four times the limit

Police do not regularly enforce the speed limit, the report said

Concerns have been raised about motorists using roads through a Lancashire park as a "rat run" shortcut – reaching four times the speed limit.

Councillors have been told of drivers hitting speeds of 78mph (126kmh) along the road through Towneley Park - near a stately home - despite a 20mph (32kph) limit.

Burnley Council's executive has been asked to start the process of introducing traffic calming measures to try and cut vehicle speeds to safe levels in the authority-owned 445 acres that surround Towneley Hall.

A report prepared for its meeting on 25 November proposes a consultation on the plan, which would run between December and January.

It said the 20mph speed limit has been in force through Towneley Park, between Unity College and Springwood Road since 2010 but the police do not regularly enforce it.

'Quiet place for recreation'

"In recent years, the volume of traffic using Deer Park Road and Towneley Holmes Road has increased, with drivers using it as a shortcut between Red Lees Road and Todmorden Road/Parliament Street," it said.

The report said a traffic survey found "a significant minority that ignores the 20mph limit, with recorded vehicle speeds of up to 78mph with 85% of vehicles exceeding the speed limit, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The same survey counted 22,000 vehicles driving through the park in a single week, which is equivalent to 1.14 million vehicles over a full year.

"The high volume of vehicles and the excessive speed of some present a risk to pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders and detracts from the public's enjoyment of Towneley as a quiet place for recreation," the report said.

The proposed measures include the installation of round-top speed humps and raised crossing points at regular intervals along Deer Park Road and Towneley Holmes Road designed to encourage slower, safer driving and deter motorists from using the route as a shortcut between Red Lees Road and Todmorden Road.

Councillor Jack Launer, the council's health and culture boss, said: "Towneley is one of our borough's most loved green spaces, and we want to make sure it remains safe and enjoyable for everyone.

"These proposals will help protect people who use the park while keeping access for those who need to drive."