IT will come has a huge relief to thousands now that plans for a link road to service the Horwich Loco Works housing development are finally set to be submitted to Bolton Council.

Funding of £12million to create the new road across the 1,700-home development was approved last year after concerns were raised about the increased traffic which would be caused by the development — one of the biggest in the North West.

The road will link the £262m Rivington Chase scheme to Middlebrook Retail Park, Horwich Parkway Railway Station and junction six of the M61.

Work has started on the first phase of the scheme but with no official plans for the road to ease expected congestion, residents have rightfully been concerned about the future.

These plans will no doubt go a long way to alleviate those fears.

And as Cllr Martin Donaghy, executive cabinet member for strategic housing, says, the development will prove crucial to providing new infrastructure in the area and ultimately benefit the whole area. It’s an exciting time in Bolton with a great deal going on, from the town centre masterplan to the redevelopment of The Octagon.

But with all large scale developments, the path is never completely clear.

It takes time and there is a great deal of upheaval on route.

But it’s worth it in the end.

Let’s hope so anyway.