Fears a new HGV yard near Clitheroe could lead to rat-runs and traffic mayhem have been dismissed by independent experts.
United Utilities wants to build the new marshalling yard on the A59, near Pimlico Link Road, as part of the HARP water tunnel scheme. This is a £3bn project to refurbish the crucial Haweswater Aqueduct. that carries water from Cumbria to 2.5m customers in Greater Manchester and Lancashire.
But some residents and Ribble Valley councillors claim it will create extra traffic around Clitheroe. So they want improvements on the A59 Pimlico Link Road junction and elsewhere.
A roundabout and traffic signals have both been mooted as a solution.
In addition, some want United Utilities to upgrade an existing footpath along the A59, fund a brand-new path and cycleway and fund improvements to the Chatburn Road roundabout elsewhere in Clitheroe.
Ribble Valley Council's planning committee deferred the plan in July, asking for an independent traffic survey. Since then PSA Design has looked at concerns and conducted surveys. The United Utilities application is due back at the planning committee on Thursday, November 27.
Based on the traffic survey, a new Ribble Valley Council report states the proposed marshalling yard is unlikely to create vehicle 'rat-runs' elsewhere because congestion would be confined to short periods during rush hours.
Regarding other requests, United Utilities has offered to put a better surface on one existing path nearby. And Lancashire County Council could consider widening Chatburn Road roundabout. But other requests are not possible, the council report says.
It states: "Surveys show traffic flows, vehicle speeds and queue lengths correlate well with the data presented in the planning application. Regarding the highways impact, PSA Design consider the assessments to be fair, reasonable and valid."
Surveys showed there was peak time queuing but the proposed marshalling yard's impact would be negligible. Given the journey times for alternative routes, there would be negligible potential for rat-running elsewhere, the report adds. Overall, it would be difficult to justify a planning requirement to improve the existing link road and the A59 junction based on the traffic surveys.
The report also says claims of an 'existing safety problem' at the A59 link junction have not been found in surveys. Furthermore, placing traffic lights there or building a roundabout could delay much larger volumes of through-traffic on the A59.
In summary, it would be difficult for councillors to use a highways reason to refuse the marshalling yard plan.
United Utilities was also asked to consider providing a brand-new pedestrian and cycle route along Pimlico Link Road between Chatburn Road and Pimlico Road. But physical constraints there make it impossible, the report adds.
However, United Utilities is offering to upgrade an existing path along the A59 between the northern end of Four Lane Ends, the Lancashire Cycleway and along Pimlico Link Road, between the A59 and Lincoln Way. It will upgrade the surface from gravel to a smooth, sealed material. The path may also need a barrier.
Regarding widening of Chatburn Road roundabout , Lancashire County Council has provided a basic plan with traffic islands removed. More details could follow.
Finally, the report adds: "Should this application be refused, deferred or challenged and significantly amended, United Utilities will re-assess if this remains compatible with delivery plans for HARP and reserve the right to withdraw this offer."
Councillors are recommended to approve the plan, with conditions.