Burnley’s Member of Parliament, Antony Higginbotham, has used Parliamentary time to speak about the benefits of building a slip road travelling westwards on Junction 11 of the M65.
Currently the junction only allows traffic to travel in the direction of Colne but the MP has argued that by building a westward junction, traffic would be eased and further economic opportunities would be opened up.
Speaking in the House of Commons he said:
Junction 11 of the M65 currently only allows traffic going eastwards towards Colne where the motorway ends - not westwards towards the M6 opening up the whole country. The result is a majorly congested Burney town centre and a limit to economic opportunity.
Originally constructed in 1978 the M65 has had many alterations over the years. Speaking about the proposal after the debate in Parliament Mr Higginbotham said:
With the expansion taking place at Burnley College, and the close proximity junction 11 has to the new Pioneer Place development, the area around this part of town is going to be a hive of activity. Junction 11 is the closest motorway entrance and is why I raised the possibility of a new slip road to connect westwards.
Not only would that help with any congestion problems but by allowing travel towards the M6 and M62 we can open up further routes for commuters which will expand economic opportunity. In particular is the ability to open up one of Burnley’s premier leisure resorts at Crow Wood, alongside Burnley College, which can only be accessed from the Eastbound side of the M65.
There’s been quite a bit of support from residents on this and so I’ll keep raising it.
