Temporary traffic lights directing motorists around roadworks where no significant work has been done for 71 weeks have so far cost the taxpayer more than £17,000.

Works by Bradford Council to re-inforce a retaining wall on a stretch of road where Hob Cote Lane meets Harehills Lane near Oakworth were meant to start in late 2011, but have been pushed back until Monday. Work will not finish until August.

Despite the seeming lack of progress, temporary lights powered by a portable generator have been on site ever since.

Figures exclusively obtained by the Telegraph & Argus through a Freedom of Information request show that these lights have cost £245 a week to run – a total of £17,394.80.

And since first proposed, the estimated cost of the project has jumped from £60,000 to £100,000.

When asked why there had been such a long delay in the project starting, a Council spokesman said: “The scheme was included in the wall strengthening programme subject to availability of resources. Those schemes which were already in our programme for that financial year had to be prioritised. Initial options considered for strengthening the wall were rejected after review due to costs, safety, impact on highway users and buildability issues.”

Because the authority had only budgeted £60,000 for these works, the remaining £40,000 will have to come out of other planned projects to repair bridges and walls across the district.

Local ward councillor, and leader of the council’s Conservative Group, Glen Miller said: “I wonder how many other sites there are with traffic lights and road repairs that just keep dragging on and on wasting even more money?”

During the work the Council has warned of temporary road closures, and said there may be periods where there seems to be little work being done.