RESIDENTS are demanding urgent action to stop drivers using a residential road as a rat run. They want Bolton Council highways chiefs to prevent motorists cutting through Greenland Road at Farnworth. Impatient drivers have been using the road to avoid the traffic lights at the junction of Green Lane and Bradford Road.

They have then been driving through the Royal Bolton Hospital site and on to Plodder Lane as a short cut.

The council put up a barrier to block off the northern part of Greenland Road.

But drivers started cutting through nearby Oakleigh Avenue instead.

But furious residents claim that the barrier was put in the wrong place.

Now they want Greenland Road closing at the Conservative Club, and access at Oakleigh Avenue "for residents only".

A report on how to solve the problem is now going to be presented to the council's highways sub committee.

Chairman Cllr Peter Finch said: "We have had a public meeting with the residents and this does need sorting out.

"The barrier to close off part of Greenland Road only transferred the problem to Oakleigh Avenue. We will now have to look at other methods.

"Residents can contact us and if they want another public meeting to sort this out, then we will do that."

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