THE motorway network link planned to scythe across part of Journal land but shelved because of road building cutbacks still figures in plans to revitalise the area.

The M6-M61 link project, known as route 225 or the Blue Route, was put on the back boiler by the Government in the 1990s but the proposed line of the road -- running from junction 26 at Orrell through Wigan, Hindley Green and Atherton to the M61 at Chequerbent -- is still protected by the Highways Agency.

This week a Wigan Council spokesman explained: "The local authority thinks this route would be good for regeneration and investment and is investigating the possibility of private funding.

"There is no quick way between Wigan and Leigh and we are investigating incorporating this in to the transport hub project linking with the rail and bus network."