Blackburn with Darwen Council residents can now apply for new roadworks scheme

A Lancashire council has created a new policy to allow residents living in unadopted streets to apply for a new roadworks scheme. Blackburn with Darwen Council has approved a new code of practice for dealing with private street works schemes instigated by residents.

A report from its growth boss Cllr Quesir Mahmood says: “Residents of unadopted streets are able to request that the council formally adopt their street in order that it becomes a ‘highway maintainable at public expense’. This Code of Practice sets out the process by which this will be achieved including guidance as to how the costs of any scheme are apportioned between the residents

“On becoming a Unitary Authority in 1998, the council became the highway authority for the borough and adopted all the highway policies and codes of practice it inherited from Lancashire County Council. Over the years these policies have been revised in line with changing legislation and technological advances.

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“There are many unmade, unadopted streets across the borough. However it is rare for residents to come together in agreement to request the council to invoke the private street works code.

“Indeed, in the 25 years since there have only been two private street works schemes carried out within the borough, in 2007 and 2014, and hence the updating of the code of has been of fairly low priority.”