BLACKBURN’S new link road will become a reality, a leading councillor has insisted.

This week the Lancashire Telegraph revealed the planning application for the dual carriageway had been withdrawn, with a battle looming with English Heritage over a listed building in King Street.

If it gets the go ahead, the road will connect the £12million Wainwright Bridge with Montague Street.

Critics said the route of the road should have been cleared before the costly bridge was built.

They said that if the battle with English Heritage was lost, it would be a ‘bridge to nowhere’.

Tory Coun Mike Lee, who will take over as council leader at the end of the year, said: “I think it will still go on that route.

"Obviously we have to go back to English Heritage, but I can’t see how a building that stood empty for 30 years before we took it over could prevent this vital road.”