A £50 million pipeline project will cut through the heart of Journal land.

And gas suppliers say it could create hundreds of local jobs - and some disruption.

A major section of the 40 kilometre long natural gas pipe would run through Hindley, Atherton, Tyldesley, Astley and Glazebury en route from Mawdesley in West Lancs to Warburton in Cheshire.

Transco, owners and operators of the national gas pipeline network, says it is continuing extensive consultations with local authorities, landowners, environmentalists and wildlife groups.

A Transco spokesman said: "Work on site will start in March 2000 and is scheduled to be completed by October 2001 and followed by a reinstatement programme.

"It is expected to create 300-400 mainly local jobs at the peak of construction.

"While construction work is expected to cause some disruption to local communities along the route, every effort will be made to ensure this is kept to a minimum.

"The gas pipeline will be buried below ground and the area fully restored after work is complete. The pipeline passes through some heavily populated urban areas and detailed traffic management plans will be drawn-up with the relevant authorities."

Copies of detailed plans will be available for inspection at libraries.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.