A COMMUNITY group is pushing for progress on plans for a cycle route along the Colne Valley.

The Paddock Community Forum - a charitable company overseeing voluntary groups in the area - hopes to re-awaken moves to introduce the route, which was conceived several years ago.

The cycle path would run from Huddersfield town centre to Tunnel End in Marsden, using quiet roads, tracks, the banks of the River Colne and the Huddersfield Narrow Canal towpath.

Kirklees Council put plans for the route into its local transport plan in 2000, intending to carry out work between 2003 and 2005.

But plans were put on hold because a similar scheme to create a Calder Valley cycle route took priority and more cash than expected.

David Robson, chairman of the Paddock Community Forum, met with members of Kirklees Council's Colne Valley area committee on November 13 to discuss the issue.

He said the results were encouraging.

Mr Robson said: "The good news is some money is available in this year's budget for the Colne Valley. The whole scheme is probably a long way off, but we hope there is now some movement."

Kirklees Council highways officer Tom Ghee said: "The Colne Valley route will start in 2003-04 but will be complete in 2007-08 rather than 2004-5.

"The section through Paddock will be the first priority."

Work is expected to start next spring after a public consultation.

Agreement also has to be made with British Waterways on which towpaths can be used on the cycle route.

Mr Ghee said: "A number of routes are being investigated.

"Once these discussions are complete, the routes will be put out to public consultation."

Paddock Community Forum is also working on a separate project to rejuvenate an area next to the River Colne in Paddock, which includes creating pathways.

Mr Robson said it made sense to use these as part of the cycle route.

The PCF have already repaired pathways from Millgate to Goit Bridge.

But it cannot refurbish Lower Bankhouse Lane, which connects to Goit Bridge, because it is not a public highway.

Mr Robson said Kirklees Council would need to apply for the route to become a public highway and said it would be more likely to do that if the path was part of the cycle route.

Mr Robson said: "It would be a logical way for things to happen."