Bradford Council is seeking assurances that it will not be faced with a £700,000 repair bill when it takes responsibility for a two-mile stretch of road.

The new Bingley Relief Road - due to open in Autumn 2003 - will bypass the A650 between Cottingley Bar and Crossflats.

The section of the existing road is currently managed by the Highways Agency.

But the Government agency is planning to de-trunk the section, making Bradford Council responsible for its upkeep.

The Council is demanding the road is brought up to standard before it is transferred. This would include resurfacing work and improvements to pelican crossings on Bingley Main Street at an estimated cost of £700,000.

Coun Anne Hawkesworth, Executive Member for the Environment, said: "We recognise that this work has been put back to avoid the disruption caused by the construction of the bypass, but we will be seeking firm assurances that both this section of road through Bingley and other sections are brought up to standard."

She added it was important that people realise the Council is not currently responsible for the road.

"If we should get this responsibility giving to us we need to ensure that we are given the money to meet our responsibility," she said.

"We would expect to get the money to bring the road up to date before we accept it."

A spokesman for the Highways Agency said: "The Highways Agency is well aware of this issue. We have been discussing de-trunking with the Council for both this stretch and the remainder of the A650 in Bradford.

"We can confirm that maintenance work through Bingley has been deferred due to the impact that such work would have on this busy section of the road.

"On completion of the Bingley Relief Road we intend to carry out maintenance work and will continue to discuss the scope of these works with the Council."