IT has been announced that some of the busiest main routes in the area could soon be brought under local authority control.

In Otley, the busy A660 looks set to be the responsibility of Leeds City Council and in Burley-in-Wharfedale, the even busier A65 could be handed over to Bradford Council.

So, what does this mean for the future of road repairs? In the past, there's always been more chance of Government- controlled trunk roads being repaired. And where absolutely necessary - usually after years of campaigning - traffic calming measures would be introduced.

Of course, there are some long-awaited improvements like alterations to the Dyneley Arms A660 crossroads at Bramhope and the straightening of the bends along the A65 at Manor Park that have never seen the light of day.

But what chance now is there of these hugely expensive projects ever going ahead? We are constantly hearing that both Leeds and Bradford councils are cash strapped - what chance of them coming up with the hundreds of thousands of pounds needed for a single pedestrian crossing, let alone the millions needed for a bypass?

In Otley, the building of the Eastern relief road - the second half of the Otley bypass - is unaffected by the proposals. The scheme was never undertaken by the highways agency and was always going to be built by housing developers keen to apease planners by offering to provide a bypass.

But even that must be doubtful now what with current feeling being more in line with the tree dwelling anti-roads campaigners.

There is still a great deal of consultation to take place between the highways agency and local authorities. It may well be that funds will be available from the Government to pay for such schemes and that local councils will have just an overseeing role - but it's doubtful.

What seems more likely is the Government, in a tricky move, is reliquishing responsibility for all but the biggest of roads and motorways. There can be no advantage in local councils taking on the old trunk roads and it can only mean more potholes and more pressure on council tax payers.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.