A NEW multi-billion fund for road improvements could be good news for a potential Westhoughton bypass, an MP hopes.

Chris Green is urging Bolton Council to apply for a share of the government fund to help finance the project, which councillors approved in principle earlier this year.

The Bolton West MP said: “I very much welcome the government’s announcement of a multi-billion pound fund to relieve congestion on our roads – this is good news for local people here in Bolton West and Atherton.

“With the Secretary of State calling this a ‘bypass fund’, there is clearly scope for government funding to get our much-needed Westhoughton bypass up and running.

“I’ll be urging Bolton and Wigan councils to apply to this fund to make sure that we get our fair share of investment here locally.”

The creation of a Westhoughton bypass could depend on the outcome of a planning inquiry, which was held at the town hall last week, that could result in 300 homes being built by Persimmon near the Chequerbent Roundabout.

A council spokesman said: “We will look to see what the requirements of the fund are, and what projects would be suitable”