PREPARATORY work to complete Blackburn’s latest ‘road to nowhere’ has taken a step forward despite the discovery of three difficult-to-treat plants under the proposed carriageway.

Council bosses have submitted amended plans for the roundabout at Gorse Street needed to builds the missing link of the £40million Pennine Reach public transport and highway scheme.

It will enable construction work on the the final 600-yard ‘missing’ section of the £4.8million Furthergate Link Road to start later this summer.

Construction of the ‘missing link’ is expected to take six months using £2million of cash provided by the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership.

The works will connect up the main no-stopping ‘red route’ along Bottomgate and Copy Nook into Blackburn town centre with the Red Lion Roundabout and the M65 Junction 6.

The construction of the new highway, bypassing Burnley Road, was halted in 2016 because of a row between Blackburn with Darwen Council and Tesco over a small piece of land off Gorse Street on the carpark belonging to the chain’s Hill Street store.

Included in the application to realign plans for the crucial roundabout, and provide vehicle access to nearby allotments, is an ‘invasive species method statement’.

It reveals the presence of three plants not native to the UK which are notably difficult to remove, treat or manage.

They are Japanese Knotweed, Himalayan Balsam and Wall Cotoneaster located in plant beds, close to the smallholdings and by the Leeds Liverpool canal, which runs alongside the site.

The statement outlines the need to contain the plants by fencing them off to prevent further spread and the need to employ a specialist contractor to use powerful herbicides to eradicate and contain the three species.

Borough Tory group leader Cllr John Slater said: “This is further example of how the council have made a pig’s ear of this scheme.

“Now their contractors will have to clear up the mess.

"It’s another example of the inept forward planning which has dogged this project.

“This will cause extra cost to the council taxpayer and further delays to this scheme long-awaited by commuters in and out of Blackburn.”

Borough regeneration boss Cllr Phil Riley said: “This planning application is a step forward.

“It will enable construction work on the final section to start later this summer.

“Our timetables and contracts contain contingencies to accommodate unexpected costs and delays caused by unforeseen problems such as these plants.”