Highways bosses save florist's Valentine's Day

Fears loved-up couples would be dissuaded from impulse buying Valentine's Day flowers due to roadworks in an east Lancashire township have been allayed.

Nigel O'Rouke, co-owner of Open All Flowers florist on Whalley Road, Clayton-le-Moors, was dismayed that work by Electricity North West would mean temporary traffic lights outside his premises from 12 February and continue until Valentine's Day.

The 61-year-old was so concerned it would affect trade at a peak time for his shop he wrote a heartfelt plea to his local councillor.

Lancashire County Conservative councillor Carole Haythornthwaite flagged the issue to highways bosses and they revoked the permit for this week's work.

Mr O'Rourke, who co-owns the shop with his wife, said he was "so glad" Lancashire County Council highways had postponed the works because if they had gone ahead it would have been a "disaster" for his trade.

"It's definitely taken a big worry off my shoulders," he told the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Mr O'Rourke added: "Florists around the country rely on this period to see them through the quieter spring and earlier summer months."

He said the business had been "here for over 30 years" and "if the roadworks had gone ahead this week, we would have been at best marooned in the midst of all the traffic lights, and nobody would have been able to get to us".

Lancashire County Council highway boss councillor Rupert Swarbrick said he was "delighted" the move would allow Electricity North West to plan their works for a later date "to avoid any losses occurring for the florist business".

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