Heysham-M6 road link legal challenge launched

Campaigners opposed to a major road-building project linking Heysham and Morecambe to the M6 have begun legal action.

Transport Solutions for Lancaster and Morecambe is seeking a judicial review against the £123m road, which was approved by the government last month.

Chairman David Gate said the group would contest the move on five grounds.

The county council said legal action would lead to delays and increase the cost of the scheme.

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin announced on 19 March that he had granted approval for the Heysham-M6 road link.

Mr Gate said the announcement was "a great disappointment to opponents of this controversial project".

He said: "... There are five very substantial grounds on which the decision should be challenged... these areas of concern call into question the legality of the decision made by the Transport Secretary. The decision should be tested, and our challenge will test it."