THE long-running debate about the junction at Birches Lane and the A556 is set to continue as Lostock Gralam Parish Council considers a new solution to the problems there.

The gap at the junction is currently closed, preventing right turns into and out of Birches Lane, following several fatal road accidents there in recent years.

There have been a number of meetings about the situation in the past few years, with suggestions being put forward such as installing traffic lights at the junction.

Although many people want the gap to be closed permanently, others feel that the closure has caused problems.

Clr David Rouse said it meant that Lostock Green residents were being isolated because it made it more difficult to get into Lostock Gralam.

And one resident at the council's meeting earlier this month said it was also causing problems for schoolchildren who were trying to cross the road.

The resident, who did not want to be named, said: "It's a nightmare. There are children going across there on their own and there are cars going at 70mph."

She said the closure of the gap seemed to have led to cars travelling at higher speeds along the road.

Council chairman Shaun Wells said: "We've all seen children crossing the road and pushing bikes over it. Kids will always go the shortest route: they won't walk out of Lostock Green and then come back the other way."

He said the junction layout at the A556 at Hartford appeared to be working well.

Clr Ann McEllin said they would need to ask the Highways Agency to see if they could put this option to the public in Lostock.

She said: "We need to ask them if we can offer that sort of junction here and then we can propose it."

rbabington@guardiangrp.co.uk