ABOUT 250 new jobs are in the pipeline as a result of plans for a new motorway access road at Hapton.

Councillors at Burnley have given their go-ahead for the creation of an access road from the M65 to Hepworth Building Products Ltd, manufacturers of large plastic pipes, at Pollard Moor works.

The project involves the construction of a link road over a new canal bridge to connect junction 9 with the industrial site.

The company have announced they are reorganising their operations to make more efficient use of the land and investment in new plant production methods leading to the creation of about 250 jobs.

About half of the 25 hectare site is now derelict and will be reclaimed to provide for new industrial or commercial development.

Vehicle access is currently from Stone Moor with all traffic passing through Hapton village or Padiham.

The old stone bridge over the canal is a listed grade 11 structure and the new bridge will be designed in order to respect the historic canalside setting and green belt location. Councillors have been told that although detail designs are not yet available a "mass concrete monster'' would not be acceptable.

Approval for the road scheme has been delegated to the head of Planning Services unless objections are raised within the consultation period.

Councillors were told an early decision was necessary in order to secure funding for the road scheme.

Funding from the government and Europe has already been secured to help in the development of junction nine and it is hoped the freeing up of the 30 acres of land nearest to the motorway will attract more businesses and create more jobs.

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