BUSINESS leaders from across the region have reiterated their backing for a rail link which would provide a direct route from Keighley into Lancashire.

West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce raised the issue during a meeting with senior Department for Transport executive committee members, including Permanent Secretary Bernadette Kelly.

Campaigners have long been pressing for the restoration of the 12-mile Skipton to Colne railway line, which closed in 1970.

Efforts to see the route resurrected have been spearheaded by the Skipton-East Lancashire Rail Action Partnership (SELRAP), and backers include Keighley MP John Grogan.

Transport for North is providing funding for a definitive study of the route by the Department for Transport, for completion by the end of this year.

Ian Williams, of the chamber’s policy team, said the meeting with the Department had been “beneficial to both sides”.

The meeting was chaired and hosted by Sara Gilmore, of Addleshaw Goddard, who heads-up the chamber transport group.

Members gave presentations on key transport issues for the region.

Other topics covered included the prospect for greater investment and the likelihood of devolution for the area.

Also present at the meeting were Leeds and York & North Yorkshire chamber vice-presidents Amanda Beresford and Andrew Digwood, chamber chairman Gerald Jennings and chief executive Sandy Needham. Drax Power Management and Leeds Bradford Airport were also represented.

“The executive was clearly in listening mode although – as with most things these days – each and every transport project needs the most robust and vigorous business case for it to get a hearing,” added Mr Williams.

“Our members demonstrated the wider benefits of investment in transport, including social mobility and community cohesion, as well as enhanced business productivity and economic growth.

“We will continue to press our case to ministers on a number of projects we feel are needed to assist business growth.

“As well as stressing the need for better rail-freight connectivity via the renewed Skipton-Colne rail link and improved surface access to the airport, the DfT officials heard the cases for a Northern Powerhouse rail station in Bradford, a fully-costed and integrated HS2 city station and the dualling of York’s outer ring road.”

The chamber said afterwards that the case for improved transport links had been clearly made.

A spokesman added: “Poor connectivity from and to parts of the Bradford district have been well-noted and links across the Pennines in particular have been flagged-up.

“Better options for rail-freight were highlighted by Drax Power boss, Andy Koss, and the campaign to reopen the Skipton-Colne rail link is fully supported by the chamber. The subject was also raised by the chamber in a meeting with Transport for the North earlier this year.”