Barnoldswick Beach will be back as planned next Saturday after County Hall made a U-turn on road closures.
The popular event and the twice-weekly Barnoldswick market were in jeopardy throughout August after Lancashire County Council gave the request for road closures the red light in an email to Coun. David Whipp on Wednesday.
Road closure requests had been submitted to facilitate donkey rides for children and a town crier competition as well as to move the market on to Albert Road due to the beach marquee being in Barnoldswick Town Square.
Coun. Whipp said it was “catastrophic” and “wholly unreasonable” for the county council to refuse closure consent at the 11th hour when Barnoldswick Town Council had committed £10,000 towards it.
But agreement has now been reached for Pendle Council to draw up road closures under appropriate legislation giving the events the green light to continue.
Oliver Starkey, Lancashire County Council highways manager for East Lancashire, said: “We support Pendle Council’s plans to use the pedestrianised area of Barnoldswick Town Centre for the beach event, and have responded to their request for advice on any impacts it may have on the local road network.
“Pendle Council asked our advice on moving the market, which is usually on the town square, to part of Albert Road which is still open to traffic and would need a road closure to host the market.
“This can be achieved using the county council’s powers, but would need to be advertised and the order may have a cost to the event promoter if we are to close the road in this way.
“We understand that Pendle Council has previously put in place a road closure using the powers available to them through the Town Police Clauses Act, and have advised that if they are satisfied this is suitable legislation for the closure the county council would not need to consider an alternative approach.”
