A MAJOR £300,000 study into building a Colne bypass and improving trans-Pennine road links into Yorkshire has been widely welcomed.

As exclusively revealed in the Lancashire Telegraph on Thursday, Highways England will conduct the research starting in April.

It will consider enhancing A roads connecting the end of the M65 at Colne and Skipton, Keighley and Bradford in West Yorkshire.

The study will look at using the A6068 Crosshill Road to Keighley to take traffic from the Blackburn, Burnley and Preston off the motorway after bypassing the Vivary Way bottleneck in Colne.

A bypass would also make it easier to reopen the railway line from the town to Skipton.

It is expected to be published in the autumn,

Lancashire County Council’s economic development boss Cllr Councillor Michael Green said: “Improving east to west connections via road and rail is a priority for Lancashire.

“We welcome this study and expect to be fully involved, as the county council is responsible for many of the roads it will cover.

“Any investment would boost economic growth and deliver more jobs for East Lancashire."

Cllr Paul White, leader of Pendle council, said: “This has the potential to transform our local economy, support jobs, and housing in our area.

“Part of the study will look at relieving congested roads in Pendle which people have had to endure for a long time.

“The right transport connections in the future will open the borough up for greater prosperity.

“This study and investment for Transport for the North has the potential to develop Pendle from being a transport cul-de-sac into a thriving east-west corridor for economic growth.”

Pendle peer Lord Tony Greaves: “It’s all very ‘aspirational’.

“If they want an improved road to the east it will have to branch off the Colne-Foulridge bypass and go around north of Laneshaw Bridge to join the A6068 over Colne Moss, but don’t hold your breath.”

Blackburn with Darwen council regeneration boss and TfNorth board member Cllr Phil Riley said: “Improving connectivity is very important to the whole of East Lancashire. It is welcome Highways England are exploring this issue.”

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said: “This study is part of our work to ensure the routes between Lancashire and Yorkshire are fit for the future – helping link communities better and boosting the economy to supercharge the Northern Powerhouse.”