THE leader of Pendle Council today hit out after it was announced his authority was losing control of managing Pendle's roads.

From next month Lancashire County Council intends to take back charge for almost all highways matters.

The county council had delegated the role to local authorities for more than 30 years.

Coun Tony Martin, the county council boss for highways, today said the move would provide residents with better value for money.

But Pendle Council leader Alan Davies today slammed the decision, saying it would lead to confusion among residents as to who was responsible for the running of highways. He said: "This is a major change for Pendle residents and Pendle Council and it is not welcome.

"We are very concerned about the reduction in service and confusion which will be caused by carving up a service which has run smoothly for 32 years."

The move, which comes into force on July 1, will see road and pavement repairs, street lighting, road safety including traffic calming and road markings and gritting centralised to County Hall.

LCC currently delegates its repairs work to highways partnerships'.

But it has decided the scheme no longer offers value for money because the standard of work varies between boroughs. However, as part of the transfer Pendle will take sole responsibility for the borough's 400 mile network of footpaths, bridleways and cycle tracks.

Some Pendle staff will move from their Booth Street base in Nelson into new LCC offices in Linden Road, Colne.

Coun Martin, cabinet member for sustainable development at LCC, said highway workers already employed in the borough would remain and would not be located in Preston.

He added: "We tried operating the highway partnerships but they were like a colander with us pouring money in the top and the boroughs spending it on what they wanted - like on streets signs.

"It is about maintaining the highways and this will provide better value for money."