The Euro-MP who caused a storm by calling for the Bingley relief road to be delayed has hit back at her critics.

Diana Wallis, Liberal Democrat MEP for Yorkshire & the Humber, was slated for becoming involved in the long-running saga.

She caused outrage by asking the European Commission to demand the Government delay work on the road until various European-level requirements were met.

Shipley Labour MP Chris Leslie, a key campaigner for the road, scorned her actions saying he doubted if she had ever been to Bingley and suggested she had been "nobbled" by Bingley Environmental Transport Association, critics of the scheme.

Diana Wallis said she was concerned that the original Environmental Impact Assessment of the road was made almost 20 years ago and the UK authorities had infringed some of the original directive.

Today she hit back and said: "I went to Bingley at the request of the Bingley Environmental Transport Association who contacted me shortly after my election (July, 1999). I visited on September 22 and witnessed the traffic problems in the town for myself.

"The issue at stake here is nothing to do with whether or not there is a traffic problem in Bingley. No-one disputes the fact that there is a problem but the circumstances have changed since the original plans were drawn up.

"We cannot turn a blind eye to environmental issues when it suits us. One must question whether the Bingley Relief Road as perceived 20 years ago remains the answer to Bingley's traffic problems of 2000 and the future.

"The fact that I have my office in Hull and live in the East Riding has nothing to do with this issue either. I represent all of Yorkshire & the Humber and it would be dishonest of me, and deceitful to my electorate, if I were not prepared to try to assist all members of the public when requested. That is the job of an elected official."

But Richard Corbett, Labour MEP for Yorkshire & the Humber, said: "I am astonished that my fellow Euro-MP Diana Wallis who lives in Swanland near Hull, has seen fit to intervene in the issue of the Bingley Relief Road."

A Highways Agency spokesman said that as far as they were concerned the matter of the Environmental Impact Assessment was closed.

A spokesman said: "In 1986 the European Commission directed that road schemes over a certain size had to undergo an Environmental Impact Statement.

"A study was produced for Bingley in 1989. In 1991 some of the objectors made a statement saying it was not satisfactory but in 1993 it was decided that although there had been some infringements of the original directive no further action would be taken."

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