COUNCILLORS in Earby have written to Lancashire County Council raising concerns about the new Colne bypass plans.

While the town council said it was not against the bypass, it was worried about its knock-on impact on the village, with increased traffic going through Earby at the end of the bypass.

The letter has been sent to Phil Barrett, head of highway services at county hall.

In the letter, the town council said: “The consensus was that traffic from the M65 through Earby would increase considerably should the proposed plan go ahead, and that this would have a detrimental effect on the town as a whole.

“Particular problems could be foreseen for houses and shops adjacent to the A56 due to vibration and the large railway wall would also suffer, let alone the problems posed by the sheer volume of traffic given the distinct lack of controlled crossing places, there being but a solitary one outside the Station Hotel.”

The town council is also opposing any use of the old railway bed for the bypass, as they are a ‘strong supporter’ of SELRAP and want to see the Colne to Skipton railway line brought back into use.

Coun Chris Tenant, chairman of the town council, said: “We are not against the bypass, we understand that it is needed, but there are issues that we think need serious consideration.”

The council is also asking whether the A56 through Earby will be upgraded to a trunk road again if the bypass is built, having only recently been downgraded to a minor road.

The proposals for the bypass are set to go on display in Colne Library in the next couple of days. A delay on putting the plans up for visitors to view has been blamed on a printing issue.