Pendle News Room

And at last week’s Executive meeting (15 March) councillors discussed our response to Transport for the North (TfN) Draft Strategic Transport Plan which was launched in January.

The Strategic Transport Plan sets out the case for investment in transport infrastructure up to 2050 to boost economic growth across the region.

A 13 week consultation on the Plan is running until April and Pendle Council will be putting forward a detailed response.

The response will particularly focus on the proposals to improve the Central Pennines Corridor.

Councillor Mohammed Iqbal, Leader of Pendle Council and lead on economic regeneration, said: “Pendle has great opportunities for growth.

“Our response will focus on the Central Pennines Corridor and in particular the A56 Village Bypass, as well as the reinstatement of the railway line from Colne to Skipton, which will be part of a feasibility study.

 “This would give us better east-west connectivity linking Pendle with Yorkshire as well as the rest of Lancashire, reaping economic benefits and boosting our prospects of economic growth. 

 “Improving our road and rail connectivity would be a significant step forward in making a real difference.

“Pendle would no longer be a cul-de-sac; it would become a corridor for economic growth!”

Improving east-west connectivity would build on recent improvements made to the Burnley-Pendle Growth Corridor motorway junctions.

At the Executive meeting councillors agreed that Pendle Council should urge TfN to endorse the Council’s views on the Department for Transport’s Strategic Road Network and the Major Road Network proposals.

The Council’s responses to these consultations also press for greater east-west connectivity.