PLANS to create a new access to a controversial tip have taken a step forward after county and borough councillors agreed on a potential route.

Representatives from Lancashire County Council and Hyndburn Council met yesterday to discuss four possible options for a road into Whinney Hill landfill site.

The members of the cross-party working group agreed that a mixture of alterations to junction 8 of the M65 and a Huncoat village bypass would be the best way forward. Now they say they will continue to lobby the government to push the plan forward.

Residents in Altham, Clayton-le-Moors and Huncoat have been campaigning for months against the proposed one-way route along Henry Street, Clayton-le-Moors, proposed by Preston-based waste management company Sita.

The householders say the traffic generated by the tip - up to 700 journeys a day in and out - would have a detrimental effect on the environment, and would cause noise problems and vibration damage to their houses.

The tip will take another 40 years to fill, with a daily target of putting 600 tonnes of rubbish a day into it.

Clayton-le-Moors and Altham county councillor Michael Hindley said: "The county and borough councils are at one in exploring the preferred option.

"There will have to be fairly active discussions with the Highways Agency which at some point will involve consultation and persuasion. We intend to proceed as rapidly as possible.

"We want it out of the way but not at all costs. We don't want to leave the issue open as a worry for people. For our part we are ready to negotiate. I'm optimistic."

A spokesman for Sita said: "All we know is the council are looking at various alternatives and has set up this group. We haven't been approached.

"We're all for any way forward and we will talk to the council when they approach us."

County councillors are scheduled to consider the Henry Street proposal next month but Coun Hindley said that could come off the agenda.

Nobody from the campaign group REACH was available for comment.