A COUNTY councillor representing villages set to be affected by the Colne bypass has labelled the consultation a ‘disaster’.

County Coun Paul White has called on county hall bosses to extend the consultation, which is due to end tomorrow.

In a letter to council leader County Coun Jennifer Mein and the interim chief executive Jo Turton, County Coun White said: “The residents of Blacko, Foulridge and Higherford are already raising concerns about the consultation process, and I have to say that I wholeheartedly agree with them. This week I spent almost three hours at Foulridge Parish Council listening to how the residents there feel they have been kept in the dark with a sham consultation.

“The process has been nothing sort of a disaster to be perfectly honest.

“The way the proposals were announced was quite frankly without any regard for the people who would be affected whatsoever.

“Has there been a deliberate attempt to make this the consultation which does not consult? It is beginning to look as though this consultation is just part of a process, rather than to actually listen to the views of residents..”