A LONG-AWAITED cycleway between Barrowford and Colne is being advanced, councillors have been told.

Proposals for a shared-used path, funded by the Booth’s supermarket in Gisburn Road, Barrowford, has been in the offing since 2009, when £30,000 was set aside.

An idea was originally drafted, by Pendle Cycle Forum and Pendle Leisure Trust’s cycling and walking officer, to connect Park Hill Barn, home of Pendle Heritage Centre, to the towpath for the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.

Councillors have heard the designs, including signage and dropped kerbs, are in place, but there are land ownerships with a particular section, which county council estates officers are assisting with.

Letters will then be sent out to residents along Colne Road, inviting views, before plans for a designated cycleway are officially published.

Tricia Wilson, neighbourhood services manager, in a report to Barrowford and Western Parishes Committee, said: “The scheme is included in Pendle’s cycling legacy strategy and will create a safe circular route for cycling, connecting Barrowford to the canal towpath, which also forms Route 68 of the Sustrans National Cycle Network.

“It is a fantastic connection for people travelling by bike to access Booth’s and Booth’s cafe as they can use the footbridge directly across from Booth’s and pick up the cycle path in Barrowford Park up to Colne Road.”

Once the planning process for the supermarket had been undertaken, the £30,000 was actually handed over the planning authority in 2014 and must be spend by 2021, under current legislation.

If the cycleway is approved then a small amount of additional funding may be required to add the finishing touches to the anticipated route.

An approach might be made to the Barrowford or Colne area committees, if required.