Work on Bingley's long-awaited relief road could start before Christmas following John Prescott's multi-billion pound transport spending announcement.

But the Deputy Prime Minister's announcement of £60 million for the road was today dismissed as "spin".

Deputy Tory leader in Bradford Coun Richard Wightman, (Cons, Rombalds) said: "We are glad that the road is to start construction at an early date but this has been no more than was promised in the past and, indeed, under the Conservative government's plans, the road would have been constructed by now.

"We hope that it will be constructed now without delay to the benefit of users of road services in the Bingley area and the Aire Valley generally."

In July 1998, the Telegraph & Argus reported that Mr Prescott had given the final go-ahead for the scheme after a 30-year campaign by local residents.

At the time, the Labour MP for Shipley, Chris Leslie, said: "This is marvellous, wonderful news - all the hard work persuading the Government has paid off."

Yesterday, he said: "This means cash is now available this financial year. The scheme is currently out to tender but now there are no financial obstacles we can get cracking straight away.

"Some people are concerned that it could just shunt the traffic problem down to Saltaire, but we've looked at that very carefully and we don't think it will.

"Most of the congestion in the evening peak is heading out of Bradford so it jams up not just in Bingley but all the way back to Saltaire, that's why there's a lot of rat-running through Nab Wood and Baildon.

"We actually reckon there will be great benefits all down the valley by relieving the congestion at Bingley."

Councillor Anne Hawksworth (Con, Ilkley), executive member for the environment, agreed that the news was excellent.

"I'm sure this news will come as a great relief to many of the residents in Airedale," she said, but added: "I hope the new money is real money and not spin money."

Earlier this year, the T&A revealed how the relief road's opening date had been brought forward to 2003/4.

Advanced works such as the sewer diversion, bridge and design work has already been done, but this cash means contractors can begin work sooner than anticipated - as early as Christmas.

But Friends of the Earth campaigner Tony Bosworth of Saltaire yesterday slammed John Prescott's transport programme, saying it would be damaging to the region's roads.

"This scheme is potentially damaging to Bradford. One hundred new bypasses are being built around the country and this is certainly going to affect the area," he said.

"We want to see cars being pushed out of Bradford city centre and more investment in public transport."

The Bingley announcement came amid Mr Prescott's £180 billion input for transport over the next 10 years, including £60 billion for railways, £59 billion for roads and almost £26 billion for local transport schemes.

And Bradford is bidding for cash to fund its city centre planned Integrated Transport Scheme - which would redevelop the city centre between Broadway, Cheapside, Petergate and Hall Ings and cost around £2,541,000 - is also earmarked for implementation.

The city also hopes to receive funding for a series of schemes including the completion of the Manchester Road Quality Bus Scheme, the new Keighley Bus Station and South Bradford Integrated Transport improvements - a package of measures including improvements at M606/Staygate and Manchester Road/Mayo Avenue junctions, a park and ride at Odsal, environmental improvements on minor roads and facilities to encourage cycling costing £2,120,000.