GAS pipeline works costing £300,000 will be carried out in Foulridge during the next couple of months.

Temporary traffic lights will be put in place while Transco replaces a 1,500 metre length of gas main along Skipton Road as part of a multi-million pound package of improvements to the gas supply system in the North West.

Work in Foulridge to replace a 12" iron pipe with longer-lasting plastic was due to start last year. The route originally planned was from Langroyd Road, along Skipton Road and into Warehouse Lane but officials postponed the work to find a new route avoiding Warehouse Lane, in a bid to help local businesses which were concerned about the effect the closure of the lane would have on them.

An alternative route was to follow a new gas pipeline being built along the old railway line but that has been delayed indefinitely due to the foot and mouth crisis.

Transco bosses, the council and police have now agreed to continue with the original route from Langroyd down Skipton Road and are currently trying to negotiate a new route to avoid Warehouse Lane.

The works are expected to be completed by the end of September and council resurfacing work will follow on immediately after the Transco works to minimise the disruption in the busy area.