The new price-tag for the proposed Bingley relief road could scupper the scheme, campaigners fear.

The Telegraph & Argus revealed yesterday that the estimated costs of building the dual carriageway relief road have been revised upwards by a third.

Highways Agency officials now put the total cost at £64 million instead of £48 million, while advance works and preparations have already cost £23 million.

The Government will announce later this Spring whether Bingley's road scheme will get the go-ahead - but town campaigners are now worried it is being priced out of reach.

A Highways Agency spokesman said: "The previous cost given for the road was £48 million which was the cost of the works. The total cost is estimated at £64 million which represents the works, plus land purchase, preparation and supervision, consultancy and design fees. These are only estimates."

Philip Smith, chairman of the Better Bingley Campaign, said: "It's inevitable that procrastination by the Government is going to keep the costs going up and up and up. The budget has probably gone up a million times since it was first mooted in the 1940s. It's a lot of money but I'd still argue that a majority of Bingley people are in favour of getting the traffic out of Main Street."

Councillor Simon Cooke (Con, Bingley Rural) added: "We remain convinced this road is necessary. To the 50,000 to 60,000 people affected on a daily basis, it would be money well spent. The fact it is now more money is bad news if Government spending targets are tight."

During the past months of consultations, 100 letters have been received in support of the road scheme (in addition to a 10,000 signature petition) while 36 letters have been sent opposing it on environmental grounds.

Transport minister Glenda Jackson said: "Our consultation has emphasised the severity of the problems in Bingley and highlighted the strong feelings about the relief road scheme."

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