A MAJOR trans-Pennine road is set to supersede the controversial Colne-Foulridge by-pass. Planners went back to the drawing board and came up with a £33 million project linking Colne with the A59 at Broughton.

They say is a better bet to attract private finance and the only way of keeping traffic away from villages in West Craven.

If it goes ahead, the road will follow the old railway line from Colne and become a combined by-pass for Foulridge, Kelbrook, Earby and Thornton-in-Craven.

The public inquiry into the Colne-Foulridge link, set for hearing on August 5, will now be scrapped.

Newly elected Colne County Councillor Tim Ormrod is vice-chairman of the Highways Committee.

He said: "This is a proposal which can provide funding for regeneration from Burnley to North Yorkshire.

"It is now clear there is an improved possibility of having by-passes that will conduit traffic away from built up areas, leading in the long term to a major trans-pennine route which will bring about the economic regeneration of East Lancashire and address the issue of increasing employment and greater prosperity for the towns in Pendle."

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