TRANSPORT Sec-retary Stephen Byers delighted local councillors this week when he confirmed that the Government would provide the £13m needed for the building of the Harnham relief road and Brunel link for the city's Churchfields industrial estate.

But there is less certainty about funding for the Wylye Valley relief road after Mr Byers said he had not received enough information about the scheme to let it go ahead.

Green campaigners claim this has now put the project in doubt - but Salisbury District Council environment and transport portfolio holder Dennis Brown said he was convinced the Wylye Valley scheme would go ahead.

"The Government have said for some time now that they are minded to fund this relief road but that they need more details before taking a decision - so this announcement comes as no surprise to me.

"Quite frankly, had he approved funding at this stage, when no route has even been agreed, I would have fallen off my chair."

Mr Brown said confirmation of funding for the Harnham relief road and Brunel link was welcome news.

"These schemes go hand in glove and are vital to solving the traffic problems in that part of the city and for getting heavy lorries in and out of Churchfields.

"But I must stress there is still a long way to go before these roads are built. We still have to go through the planning and public consultation procedures - and there will almost certainly have to be a public inquiry.

"I would say we are 18 months or more away from seeing work start on the new roads."