Burnley FC's proposed traffic regulation order has kicked off a storm among civic leaders in the town, who have raised concerns about its impact on everyone from churchgoers to people in assisted living accommodation. The new traffic order from Lancashire County Council would allow for further road closures around Turf Moor stadium on matchdays at will, which could prevent people from accessing key services for two hours before and after the matches. This is because the proposed order would allow a designated match day commander from the police to impose a closure on further routes near the stadium, including Yorkshire Street, Todmorden Road and half a mile of Belvedere Road. A number of services that would be closed off to much of the public when this takes place, include accessing the town’s registry office, raising concerns about whether births, deaths, or marriages could even be registered when the Clarets are at home. Bishop Philip North has warned that this fresh regulation would also restrict Burnley residents’ legal right to worship, with two churches and a mosque falling inside the new proposed restricted traffic area. Burnley Council leader Afrasiab Anwar met with members of the clergy who were concerned about the closures, sharing that local politicians had not been consulted on the new regulations from the county council. The closures would be hard to predict and, due to the nature of how the football season works, could be dependent on how well Burnley FC is performing. With the Clarets relegated to the EFL Championship, that also means an extra three home games and more midweek evening fixtures, not to mention the unpredictability of games being moved by Sky Sports. The county hall’s ‘statement of reasons’ for the expanded driving restrictions around Turf Moor states that the proposed Prohibition of Driving restrictions are being pursued to facilitate the safe management of traffic and pedestrians during Burnley FC matches. The proposed order has sparked concern among residents, with many worried about the impact on their daily lives. One of the churches affected, St Mary's, has long worked around Turf Moor and the throngs of fans coming to see the Clarets play, who help to support its upkeep by paying £5 to use its car park on matchdays. As St Mary’s is Roman Catholic, the closure of roads around it could prevent priests from administering last rites to people in Burnley General Hospital - a crucial religious function for Catholics. The situation has left many in the town feeling frustrated and concerned about the potential consequences of the proposed traffic order.