Purpose

Officers of the Traffic and Safety team at Lancashire County Council (LCC) were approached by the Higherford Residents Action Group (HRAG) to request permission to site a bench on the public highway network as a local amenity feature. Officers made clear the requirements under the Parish Councils Act (PCA) 1957 Section 5 highlighting the need for the Parish Council to be the authority consented to provide such features and hold ultimate responsibility for the bench including all implications, and that this consent may not be given to local resident groups such as HRAG. A design plan was submitted (Appendix B) detailing the proposed location and dimensions of the bench in relation to its surroundings to which LCC's Traffic and Safety officers have no objection. Barrowford Parish Council held a meeting on Wednesday 18th February 2026 in which the request for the proposed bench was put forward. Minutes of this meeting have been included in Appendix C. A consent under PCA Section 5 (Appendix A) was drafted by LCC's legal team which has been presented to and agreed by Barrowford Parish Council. A copy of Barrowford Parish Council's insurance policy, which includes public liability indemnity of up to £15,000,000, has been included in Appendix D.

Decision

Peter Bell, Highway Regulation Manager, took a decision to approve the request for new bench to be sited on the public highway at Dicky Nook (junction of Gisburn Road and Barnoldswick Road), Barrowford, Pendle District.