A CANALSIDE improvement scheme costing £700,000 could be put in place in Brierfield and Nelson as part of the borough's £12million SRB6 funded projects.

Groundwork East Lancashire were commissioned to carry out environmental improvement work to the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, from Clitheroe Road in Brierfield to Bunkers Hill at junction 14 of the M65, covering the SRB6 target areas of Brierfield, Whitefield and Bradley.

It was decided that the first stage would be to carry out a study to create a strategic framework and that has now been completed.

The council's executive members will consider the framework for environmental improvements and will be asked to approve it in principle and issue it for public consultation with a report back on any comments received.

Groundwork estimated the possible overall cost of key projects as £700,000 over six years, with up to £250,000 in the first three years.

The improvement scheme would include better access to the canal corridor linking it other areas of open space, community gardens, improved routes for cyclists, community art projects, heritage trails and training and educational opportunities.