A NEW crossing and safety markings are set to be approved outside a Burnley school, despite the reservations of neighbours.

Road engineers drew up plans after complaints that pupils at St James Lanehead and Holly Grove Primary Schools were having difficulties crossing Briercliffe Road.

And a proposed scheme would see a zebra crossing, school clearway markings, and 50-metre long high-friction surfaces installed either side of the provisions.

Nearby residents complained to Lancashire County Council that the proposals would severely rest-rict on-street parking near their properties, and would damage house prices.

Jo Turton, environment director, said in a report: “There is no automatic right to park on the high-way, and the provision of such amenity has to be balanced against the needs of other highway users, including vulnerable pedestrians.

“There is no evidence that the provision of a pedestrian crossing on the highway has an effect on house prises, and it is considered that this should not be a determinant in coming to a decision on the proposal.”

Borough and county councillors, after being consulted on the highways init-iative, have raised no objec- tions.

Councillors were told that not only would the crossing benefit pupils, but also elderly residents looking to reach bus stops either side of Briercliffe Road.

The scheme will be ruled upon by Coun John Fillis, the county coun-cil’s highways and transp-ortation cabinet member, on January 13.

If it goes ahead, the £26,150 will be funded partly from the environment depart-ment’s road safety capital programme, and a budget set aside for another proj-ect in Blackburn Road, Oswaldtwistle, which is now not going ahead.