THE Hyndburn MP has welcomed new plans to extend the M65 after transport bosses agreed to meet him to discuss the ‘legendary road’.

Labour MP Graham Jones quizzed transport ministers in the House of Commons on the M65’s abrupt end point and urged them to back its extension from Colne to Keighley.

He has long raised the need for an extension of the major county road into the Pennines and West Yorkshire.

In the Chamber, he argued that such an investment would go “through deprived areas and provide a huge economic uplift.”

The Transport Minister, Jesse Norman, admitted ‘the M65 is a legendary road because it ends in a car park’ and agreed to meet Mr Jones to discuss the situation and feasibility of a new plan for the M65.

Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson said it was 'regrettable' the road was not built into Yorkshire when first constructed but admitted there would be several challenges in extending the road now.

The Hyndburn MP welcome the news and said he is looking forward to seeing what could be done to extend the road.

Mr Jones said: “I welcome the Government’s commitment to meet with me and other concerned parties to discuss what can be done about bringing the M65 extension to life.

“When it was initially designed, the motorway was never supposed to end in Colne. In fact, it was supposed to carry on over to West Yorkshire.

“The Pennine corridor is now attracting considerable business and government interest.

“The minister’s statement was helpful and I look forward to working with the Government as much as possible to bring out the full potential of this important piece of infrastructure in the North.”

The M65 currently ends at the car park of The Boundary Mill Store in Colne.

However Tory MP Mr Stephenson questioned how feasible the move to extend it would be.

He said: "I think it is regrettable it was not made to extend the M65 into Yorkshire when it was originally constructed.

"However there would be a range of issues in extending the motorway.

"There are perhaps more feasible solutions to reducing congestion in Colne, perhaps looking at the Colne bypass, and I have spoke to Jesse Norman about the situation.

"It's good to see talks taking place about the issue but it would have a huge economic and structural impact on Colne to extend it now after all the building work which has gone on."

Mr Jones has also been calling for better transport links elsewhere in the area and has joined calls for better rail servies in East Lancashire, such as the reinstatement of the line between Colne and Skipton.

He said improvements in both rail and roads would be great news for the area financially.

Mr Jones said: "There's a commitment from government to progress the rail link connecting East Lancs to the ports of Hull and Liverpool.

"Transport for the North is looking at the motorway but we need a recognition from government that the road is as important as the rail link for economic progress."