A COUNCIL is finally to get cash back on a road building bill which has been outstanding for more than five years.

Burnley's Inner Link Road was designed and constructed by the council between 1987 and 1992 - with the scheme paid for jointly by the Department for the Environment and Lancashire County Council which footed 25 per cent of the bill under the Urban Programme.

Late claims for compensation and land acquisition went on until 1994.

But when Burnley handed in its last bill for £76,000 payment, the town hall was told: "Sorry, you're too late. The scheme has ended."

That left Burnley picking up the tab for the claims and holding it for five years.

Now, however, after long negotiations, a deal has been hammered out to give Burnley half the cash back.

County highways chiefs have agreed to include a sum of £38,000 in the coming year's capital programme for payment to Burnley.

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