CAMPAIGNERS have sworn to continue fighting against plans to build a bypass through their village - despite the revelation that they don't have the support of their county councillor.

Members of Link Action hope they can still brow beat Lancashire County Council into dropping the so-called Blue route for the proposed Penwortham bypass extension which will cut through New Longton.

But at a public meeting last week local county councillor Keith Young revealed the decision, to be finalised on May 22, was almost a fait accompli and that attempts to change this would be futile.

He explained: "I believe the decision has effectively already been made and it would be wrong of me to give you any other advice.

"In previous meetings when I didn't support the Blue route I found myself in a minority of one against 49 other councillors."

The alternative to the proposed trajectory for the bypass extension is the Brown route which, the meeting was reminded, would involve demolishing Howick primary school.

Then councillor Young dropped the bombshell of the evening - that he was not prepared to vote against the Blue route when it comes before committee later this month.

He said: "I have been forced to make my position clear - I have done my best to listen and to support Link Action, but I have a duty to represent a much wider parish than the one we are in tonight and I can't ignore that fact that Hutton has come out in favour of the Blue route."

Now Bill Robinson, leader of the Link Action campaign, has vowed that despite lack of support they will continue to make their views heard. "We will go down fighting - to do nothing is to support the Blue route," he declared. He hopes to organise a petition which will be presented to Highways and Transportation sub-committee's Chairman Dennis Golden before the May 22 meeting.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.