A NORTHERN by-pass for Lancaster is now definitely on the cards...

Lancashire County Council's cabinet has today (Thursday) voted to back plans for a new road to link Morecambe and Heysham with the M6.

It says that in the light of environmental and technical assessments and advice received - including legal advice from leading counsel - the county council supports the Northern route option.

But it wants the road to go ahead without the provision of a Luneside link bridge which Lancaster City council decided was a 'must have' extra if the road is to go through.

Detailed work will now be undertaken so that a planning application for the Heysham to M6 link can be submitted as soon as possible.

The Cabinet says it will be requesting talks with Lancaster city councillors and the North West Development Agency regarding economic development sites in the area, including the likely impact on traffic and access.