A RESTAURATEUR has called on police to be more considerate of local businesses when dealing with incidents on one of East Lancashire’s most notorious roads.

Karl Elsworth owns The Pack Restaurant and Bar, in Elton Road, which runs on to Grane Road, and said police close the entire road whenever there’s an accident or particularly bad weather — a move he says costs him trade.

The 30-year-old, who will have owned the Italian eatery, formerly known as The Pack Horse, for three years in November, said: “They close it from the motorway junction to the village and it makes no sense.

“Instead, there needs to be signs from the motorway that say the road will be closed ahead. Then people will know how far they can go and if they can make it here.”

Mr Elsworth, who lives in Edgworth with his wife Jo-Ann and their two-year-old daughter Bridie, said he had previously had to call customers with reservations for dinner to tell them the restaurant was open after an accident.

“I want to make the police aware of the effect it’s having on the area,” he said.

“There was one night we had 22 booked in, and not one arrived because the police had closed the road from the junction of the M65. “It affects our trade and there’s no consideration for businesses.”

In recent years, several people have been killed on Grane Road, which links the motorway and the busy A56, including the 20-year-old driver of a blue classic Mini Cooper, which overturned after hitting a silver Mercedes C200 head on around 8.30am on Sunday.

Two teenage girls, aged 15 and 17, were flown to hospital, and a 26-year-old man was taken by ambulance. All three remain in a serious condition, police said.

A Lancashire Police spokesman said: “While police try to keep disruption to local residents and business owners to a minimum, road closures are put in place to ensure the safety of other road users and members of the public.

“When closures occur as a result of road traffic collisions, this is to allow a thorough investigation to take place.”