A senior councillor is taking top legal advice before Bradford Council makes its next move in its bitter dispute with the Highways Agency over the proposed de-trunking of the congested A650.

A Council officer's report recommends the authority's decision-making executive should withdraw its objection to taking control of the road from the Highways Agency when it meets tomorrow.

Before then, Councillor Anne Hawkesworth, the executive member for the environment, wants to be aware of the full legal implications if the Council takes over responsibility.

She will also seek "categorical assurances" from the Highways Agency and the Department of Transport that de-trunking will not stop future funding for major engineering schemes needed to relieve traffic around Saltaire roundabout.

Transport Minister Douglas Alexander has also been invited to view the constraints on traffic movement through the Aire Valley.

Coun Hawkesworth said: "The executive meeting is on tomorrow but, today, I have asked for counsel to come and give a legal opinion on what our standing will be if we do or don't de-trunk.

"After that, I have invited the Highways Agency and Government office because I want to talk through options.

"If we accept de-trunking, is it detrimental to future progress on that road? I want it categorically stated Bradford is going to get some funding for this project.

"I also want the Government minister to come and see the constraints on the road. At the moment, the Bingley Relief Road is fantastic but the rest of the route between Lancashire and Leeds is one big headache."

The Highways Agency has been accused of trying to buy off Bradford Council on the cheap in the continuing row over who takes responsibility for the traffic-choked road.

The agency has offered £800,000 to the Council so it can wash its hands of one of the district's major transport headaches.

But the money is considered a "drop in the ocean" of what is required to alleviate congestion at bottlenecks and could leave the council with a multi-million-pound bill.

The Highways Agency offered the money after consultants carried out a study into the massive traffic problems which choke up the road between the Bingley Relief Road at Cottingley Bar, Saltaire and Shipley.

Three plans have been drawn up as possible solutions to the snarled-up roundabout but only one is likely to ease congestion.

e-mail: will.kilner @bradford.newsquest.co.uk