TWO multi-million pound road schemes in west Wiltshire could be delayed for up to a year as Government money has run out.

An eastern bypass for Westbury and safety improvements to the A36 between Codford and Heytesbury were cut from the Government transport spending budget announced for 2004.

Funding was delayed pending the outcome of the Bath/Bristol south coast roads study, expected this month.

But the Department of Transport has admitted the schemes are battling for a slice of the £96m reserves and could miss out.

A spokesman said: "Every year the Government announces its budget for road and transport schemes and this covers everything from roads to sea ports.

"Neither scheme has been included on the list because we are waiting for the publication of that study.

"But there is a finite amount of financial resources and these schemes are competing with hundreds of similar plans across the country for a slice of the reserves.

"The one thing the bypass and the improvements to the A36 have on their side is that they are on the cheaper scale of things."

The Department of Transport has not released details on the number of projects battling for the pool of £96m government reserves.

If the cash dries up Wiltshire County Council would have to put in another bid for the two schemes in July and wait a further five months for a decision.

County and district councillor Christopher Newbury said: "We understand it is likely funding may be delayed until the end of the year but there is a chance it could go through at the end if the month."

The eastern bypass for Westbury is opposed by the town council but has received backing from both district and county councils

The Wiltshire Times backed a campaign for improvements on the A36, dubbed 'death valley', which began after three deaths on a three-mile stretch of the road between Codford and Heytesbury during 2003.