A DECISION not to install overhead lights as part of the revamped central reservation of the M65 between junctions 10 and 14 has been slammed as ‘scandalous’ by critics.

But a senior Labour politician has defended the move, insisting that the county council had been left to carry the can after the Coalition had driven through cuts totalling £300million this year alone.

County councillor John Fillis, the county council’s highways cabinet member, had been left to decide on whether lights would form part of improved crash barriers along the motorway.

And he had hinted that nearly £20million of Whitehall cash may lead to the lighting columns issue being revisited.

But after an approach by the Lancashire Telegraph, following our M65 lights campaign, road bosses have admitted that only the junctions will be illuminated in future.

Gordon Birtwistle, who is standing for re-election as Burnley’s MP, said: “I think this is scandalous - they have got the money from the government so why don’t they go ahead and install the lights?

“This is a dangerous stretch of road and this just shows that Lancashire County Council cares little about the east of the county.”

Cllr Tony Greaves, deputy leader of Pendle Council, added: “It is disappointing – this will make this stretch of the M65 more dangerous.

“This is an urban motorway, with a number of junctions, and it should be lit.”

Ex-Burnley Council leader Cllr Julie Cooper, Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Burnley, said she had lobbied for the lights to remain – but insisted that the investment provided by the government had been ‘ringfenced’ for other work.

She added: “What is really clear is that the cuts in the county council budget from central government, somewhere in the region of £300million for this year and £250million for last year, cannot be made without it hurting.”

A spokesman said: “We’re proposing to install a concrete barrier to improve safety.”