NEIGHBOURS have presented a 430-strong signature petition calling for Bolton Council to reverse “dangerous roadworks”

which were meant to improve safety.

In a letter to Bolton Council, residents say accidents have increased since the installation of “buildouts”

in Church Road, Smithills.

The petition also blames the works for the death of a pensioner, who died two days after he fell over on a bus travelling along the road.

Sydney Haslam, aged 64, of Church Road, who organised the petition, said: “They have done these build-outs which have essentially narrowed the road by a quarter.

We are disappointed one of our neighbours had to die.”

Arthur Walker, aged 70, collapsed at his home in Valletts Lane, Bolton, in the early hours of Monday, January 23, 2012. He was taken to hospital where he died a few hours later.

Two days earlier on Saturday, January 21, Mr Walker had been travelling on the 501 bus to Bolton town centre. He suffered chest injuries when it braked suddenly and he fell.

The incident happened at about 3.50pm as the bus was driving along Church Road approaching the junction with Keighley Street. Police are investigating whether these injuries may have contributed to his death.

Mr Haslam claimed there had been four further accidents since January 25, with vehicles clipping the build-outs.

Smithills ward councillor Roger Hayes said an independent road safety survey would be carried out on completion of the roadworks.

He added: “We managed to secure a number of changes to the original scheme and there are less buildouts.

I must say the build-outs are larger than I thought they would be.

“But the engineers working on the scheme believe most of the issues will be resolved once the work is complete. I do understand the residents’ concerns and we have passed the petition to the council.”

A council spokesman said 68 per cent of residents felt there was need for traffic calming, prior to the works being carried out, but just over half of the people asked — 54 per cent — said they supported the proposed scheme last year.

The spokesman added: “We have received a petition and will give it due consideration. The council takes road safety seriously and this scheme was drawn up as a result of the number of accidents in Elgin Street and Church Road.

“We consulted residents, councillors, the business community and partners and the majority were in favour. We also revised the scheme to take into account of feedback.”

● Police are not investigating the council over Mr Walker’s death.