FRESH calls for a new trans-Pennine motorway linking Keighley with East Lancashire have won backing in the town.

Talks have been held between Bradford Council and Transport for the North (TfN) about the possibility of extending the M65 from Colne, where it currently ends, into this area.

Community leaders have welcomed the plan, which they say would provide a huge economic boost and help ease traffic congestion.

Keighley town mayor, Councillor Shabir Ahmed, said: "If it does happen, it would be brilliant.

"At the moment, Keighley is very badly affected by gridlock. We have been looking for a solution for the last 15 to 20 years.

"People in Skipton and the Dales would benefit too."

Steve Seymour, manager of the Airedale Shopping Centre, said any road scheme which improved access in and out of Keighley had to be a good thing.

"This motorway idea has been talked about for a long time – we should now be doing something," he added.

Kris Hopkins, the town's MP, said there would be benefits.

But he sounded a note of caution.

"There would undoubtedly be significant economic benefits to be gained from a scheme like this – however there are also environmental sensitivities that will have to be taken into consideration," he added.

"The idea has been talked about for many years but I would like to see an actual plan on the table rather than simply a concept."

Bingley Rural councillor Simon Cooke, the Conservative group leader on Bradford Council, said the scheme would provide a welcome fillip to the district's business community.

"It's a really good opportunity to have a relief road for the M62 and open up the Aire Valley to connect it better with the world," he added.

"It is about having another trans-Pennine crossing – a dual carriageway or motorway."

Cllr Cooke said there were several possible routes, but that the principle of a motorway had to be agreed first before options were examined.

Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, the council's portfolio holder for regeneration, planning and transport, said there was strong demand for a new road.

"Completing the motorway link between East Lancashire and West Yorkshire to create a trans-Pennine corridor would deliver huge economic benefits to the region – particularly the Aire Valley and Keighley," he added.

"We know there's a big demand for this from businesses and we raised it with representatives from TfN when we met them recently and are fully supportive of work they are doing around feasibility and potential routes."

TfN – an organisation established to transform the transport system across the north – is working to develop a long-term strategic plan, which will identify investment priorities for the region.

The plan is being developed in conjunction with the 11 Local Enterprise Partnerships and 19 local transport authorities in the north.

A TfN spokesman said: "The corridor linking East Lancashire with North and West Yorkshire will be considered as part of this work.

"We will be using evidence from a wide range of sources to inform the strategic transport plan."

West Yorkshire Combined Authority is also involved in the initiative.

A spokesman said: "We are working with LEPs in Lancashire and North Yorkshire to understand better the economic potential of improved transport links along this corridor and the work TfN is leading, to look at gaps in the infrastructure between our city regions."

At present, the M65 runs for 26 miles from south of Preston to Colne.