PLANS to revamp a disused railway line running through Farnworth and parts of Great Lever for almost two miles are being discussed.

The line runs from Heywood Park in Great Lever, past Lever Edge and the Royal Bolton Hospital, through two housing estates to Highfield and Farnworth, near New Bury.

The route has been used as a footpath since the Bolton to Manchester line closed in the 1960s -- although parts are now overgrown and strewn with litter.

Landscape officials at Bolton Council now hope to revamp the track by pruning trees, widening parts of the path and banking and installing signs, lighting and public art.

A dedicated cycle path, diverted around certain sections, may also be built.

Mike Taylor, landscape architect for Bolton Council, said an existing cycle route owned by Salford Council ran south of the M61 but ended at Bolton's border.

He said: "We want to extend it into Bolton. We want the plan to succeed because it is an underused facility that plays an important in the area."

The aim of the project is to create a "multi-functional facility" which is safe and attractive.

But the proposals, likely to cost hundreds of thousands of pounds in funding, are up in the air -- and would be subject to a period of major public consultation.

Mr Taylor said: "Whatever we do will have to be consultation led. We will always have to get people's views.

"But a positive response would go a long way to securing funding."

Funding could come from Government regeneration cash, lottery grants or Bolton Council partnership funding.

"If the plan takes off we will investigate them all," said Mr Taylor.

A feasibility study was conducted in 2000 and questionnaires were sent out. Council chiefs are now hoping to renew the public's interest. "The plan is just aspiration at the minute and it needs a proper public consultation," added Mr Taylor.

"Any funding could also deal with sections of the plan at a time and we may have to prioritise. I would like to see the whole stretch illuminated, but that is aspiration.

"People have had ideas about the revamp for a long time.

"Hopefully it will now move forward."

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