"DEVON County Council is still committed to pursuing the creation of a link road for Crediton between the A377 and the Lords Meadow Industrial Estate – but we must get it right. We want to deliver a scheme that supports development in the area, improves air quality, and addresses the issue of present and future traffic growth," reads part of a hard-hitting statement issued by Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council cabinet member for highways and transportation.

Cllr Hughes was responding to a press release issued by local county councillor, Nick Way (Crediton Rural), who criticised Devon County Council for its draft budget proposal in which, he says, it includes a proposal to delay the Crediton Industrial Link Road Scheme by up to another three years, from 2011/12 to 2014/15.

Nick Way said: "Only a few months ago the county council held a public exhibition as part of their consultation process for the Link Road, inviting residents to give their opinions.

"The 2011/12 time frame was on display for all to see and we fought hard, locally, to have it placed in DCC's own Local Travel Plan.

"This is a document approved by central government. The new large Tesco store, increasing traffic using the A377, has already opened its doors.

"Many of us campaigned to have the new road built before this happened. We were told by the planners that this was not possible.

"It has been proven that the town has suffered from poor air quality for many years, with pollution well above government limits. Now the residents of Exeter Road and the Eastern part of the town are, in effect, being told that they face even more delay."

He went on: "I am determined to fight this. Residents can be forgiven for suspecting that the County Council really plan to kick this scheme into the long grass. The previous administration at County Hall did at least understand the importance of the scheme being delivered."

Councillor Stuart Hughes (Conservative) was damning in his reply and said: "Councillor Way (Liberal Democrat) may have campaigned to have the road built before the new Tesco store was built but this was met with little support within his own party, resulting in the scheme being delayed.

"He claims the previous administration understood the importance of the scheme, but it was his Lib Dem colleagues who presented two options to the public before producing a third, which moved the road closer to people's houses.

"The blame cannot lie with the Conservative administration.

"No budgets have been agreed yet and our Cabinet has not even discussed the issue of the Link Road, but we intend to do so next month.

'POISONED CHALICE'

"We have been handed a poisoned chalice, and we are now trying to put right this fiasco created by the previous administration.

"We said, back in September, when we held a public consultation on this, that we would consider the public response in deciding how to take this scheme forward, and that is exactly what we are doing."

Devon County Council's cabinet will discuss officers' recommendations for the Crediton Link Road at its meeting on Wednesday, February 10.

Crediton Traffic Action Group has long-campaigned for the Valley route option and at a recent meeting, members were unanimous in sticking with their favoured option.

Bob Edwards, acting chairman of CTAG, told the meeting that the council's chief highways engineer, Paul Ewings, told him it was likely the hillside route would be recommended to the cabinet.

He continued: "This is because going for the valley route would trigger a public inquiry, which the council probably would not win because the landowners have offered an alternative that does the same job.

"Our view is the hillside route wouldn't do the same job. We are continuing to press for the valley route."

He reminded the meeting: "It is councillors who will decide which route.

"They have a once in a lifetime chance to sort out Crediton's traffic problems. We do not want a third or fourth rate solution."

The valley route has been protected as it has formed part of the former Crediton Bypass for the past 20 years.

The hillside route has two locations where there would be a one in 10 gradient, one which lorry drivers have already said would be too steep and would be difficult to negotiate.

Crediton Town Council previously supported the hillside route but at a meeting last year changed its mind to support the valley route.

CTAG has collected a petition, signed by 2,230 local residents, backing the valley route.