PRIME Minister David Cameron has welcomed the consultation on creating the long-awaited Colne bypass.

The Lancashire Telegraph revealed earlier this month that the £40million A56 villages bypass scheme had been named as a priority in the county council’s new East Lancashire Transport Masterplan.

During Prime Minister’s Questions yesterday, Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson asked the Prime Minister about the scheme.

Mr Stephenson said: “In the town of Colne, where I live, unemployment is down and small businesses are flourishing, however serious traffic congestion is holding back the economic growth of the area.

“Will the Prime Minister join me in welcoming the start of a six-week consultation on a Colne bypass that would address this problem and boost job creation in Pendle and East Lancashire?”

Responding, Mr Cameron said: “I very much welcome what my Honourable Friend says.

“He is absolutely right about the need for building bypasses and roads in our county.

“That is why we are spending £3billion over this Parliament on major upgrades.

“I welcome the consultation on the Colne bypass and it comes as he says at the same time as very good news on unemployment and employment where we have got a million more people in work in our country.”

The official consultation exercise has begun on the scheme, which would ease the bottleneck around North Valley Road and Vivary Way at the end of the M65.