CHESTER’S long-awaited western relief road with a new crossing of the Dee would cost £46m.

The figure was due to be disclosed at a meeting of the Town Hall Executive last night (Thurs- day).

A report by development portfolio holder Mike Jones (Con, Tattenhall) says regional funding for the route could be available after 2016.

Cllr Jones says consultants have been appointed to develop a new and expanded ‘model’ on which options could be based.

Doubts about the route of the road and the lack of a firm start date emerged in two motions to the full city council.

Cllr David Hughes (Lab, Lache Park) and David Challen asked for immediate discussions with the Highways Agency, the Welsh National Assembly and Cheshire and Flintshire county councils to reconsider the route to take it away from homes.

They pointed out that when it was agreed in the 1930s, it ran through open countryside. It now passed through a heavily populated residential area and would affect occupiers’ quality of life.

In a separate motion, Lib Dem councillors Paul Cheetham (Vicars Cross) and David Mead (College) believed a range of route options should be explored and asked for work to start by Christmas 2013.