THE council has responded to claims that a busy junction in the town is dangerous.

A resident contacted the Warrington Guardian raising concerns over safety at the junction of Hawleys Lane, Winwick Road and Long Lane.

Concern stems from a number of occasions when cars pull up alongside each other to form an ‘informal’ lane which has been marked off.

They commented: “Something has to be done about this dangerous junction – the traffic lights at Junction Nine Retail Park as you head towards Orford or turn towards the town centre.

“People are pulling up alongside other cars on the marked off lane.

“It is meant to be one lane, but people are doubling up. It is going to cause a crash as one side has hash marks.

“If those on the right wanted to go straight on, they would either have to fight in the road for position or crash side by side.”

The Warrington Guardian approached Warrington Borough Council for a statement on the junction.

A spokesman said: “We are aware of reports of traffic issues on the Hawleys Lane junction, for those using the right side of the junction to go into Orford or the town centre.

“This part of the junction is very narrow and is one lane only for a large section, before splitting into multiple lanes near the traffic lights.

“This has resulted in residents trying to form two informal lanes using the marked off area, as opposed to the single line which the lining and lane markings cater for.

“The lining and lane designation markings are in good condition and do not encourage the forming of two lanes any earlier than it is safe and practicable to do so.”