COUNCIL leaders are looking at setting up a cross-party working group to decide on how best to move forward with the Thamesdown Drive extension.

However, the Labour Group has rejected this proposal, saying a task group is unnecessary and that the priority should be to move forward with the extension.

For nearly 20 years, locals have campaigned for an extension leading to the Barnfield roundabout to ease congestion, but a report out last month said improving the existing roads, such as Akers Way and Mead Way, would be better value for money.

The issue has been the cause of many political arguments in recent months, so it was hoped the working group would bring some consensus.

Coun Dale Heenan (Con, Covingham and Dorcan), the cabinet member for transport, said: "The Conservatives would like to maintain a cross political party consensus on the issue of the Thamesdown Drive to Great Western Way extension road.

“When the engineers’ report was published last month, I said I wanted to see a cross-party task group set up. So to start 2015 on the right foot, the Conservatives have extended an olive branch to the Labour and the Liberal Democrat councillors and invited them again to participate in that task group to work together in tackling traffic issues related to this new road.

“Residents have had 20 years of promises from politicians, and it is disappointing that within one hour of the invite being sent, a Labour councillor refused in writing to take part. The reactionary criticism from the Labour party on simply publishing the engineers’ feasibility report shows why little progress has been made.”

Labour group leader Jim Grant (Lab, Rodbourne Cheney) said: “We don’t feel a task group is necessary. We have requested for the detailed design work for the road to be commissioned by the council so we then have something proper to present to the government. The government have shown with the £540m project they’ve committed to in digging a tunnel under Stonehenge that there is money for road schemes, particularly when this road is only likely to cost £50m.

“So the council and our MPs need to be at the centre of government lobbying for this road and they can only do this with the detailed design plans.

“In terms of the other road schemes proposed in the feasibility report, I wouldn’t be supportive of dualling Akers Way. If it is possible to dual Mead Way we’d be happy to support that but it can’t be an alternative to the extension road.”