HIGHWAYS chiefs hope to win an award for a controversial traffic scheme which prompted a public outcry.

They believe the scheme is a potential winner - despite prompting a 1,000 name protest petition from angry Egerton residents.

Once changes have been implemented the town hall plan to enter the final scheme into a competition for good road design.

Last week councillors agreed to amend the newly introduced traffic measures on Blackburn Road after residents claimed they created as many hazards as they attempted to solve.

Local people agreed the spy cameras, a reduction in the speed limit to 30mph and road narrowing measures had slowed traffic on the busy route.

But a traffic island and chicane system designed to stop overtaking was branded a "disaster waiting to happen" by Cllr Norman Critchley. After a public campaign councillors last week promised to monitor the chicane with speed cameras, remove the traffic island and provide better warning signs for approaching motorists.

Bolton's highways chief Adrian Golland defended the decision to enter the scheme for a yet to be identified award despite the criticism.

He said: "Despite all the controversy it has been very successful.

"Previously the residents had complained vociferously about dangerously high speeds and this scheme has managed to reduce traffic speed along the road to a mean of about 33mph.

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