THE public inquiry into the proposed Westbury bypass stalled this week after it was discovered that Wiltshire County Council had got its figures wrong.

Inspectors examining the proposed A350 Westbury eastern bypass scheme have ordered the county council to produce new information and postponed the end of the planning inquiry until September.

The move came after members of the White Horse Alliance, which opposes the project, pointed out a mistake in figures on lorry traffic through the town.

The council made a mistake in its traffic counting and modelling. Its calculation of Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) flows in Westbury and around the proposed bypass was out by 100 per cent.

On Monday the inquiry inspectors issued a note requiring the county council to provide new information on HGV numbers and traffic modelling and to consult with statutory environmental bodies including Natural England, and other interested parties.

To allow time for consultation and submission of comments and further evidence, the inspectors announced on Tuesday the inquiry will adjourn next week and be reconvened on September 5.

Patrick Kinnersly of the White Horse Alliance, said: "We welcome the extra time all parties have been given to examine the new information and to make sure the inquiry inspectors can make their decision on the basis of correct data and emerging regional transport policy.

"Hopefully out of this process will emerge recommendations for a transport solution for Westbury that will be good for the town and the surrounding communities in terms of traffic reduction and also for the protection of endangered wildlife and our vanishing farmland and countryside."

A Wiltshire County Council spokesman said it had collated the traffic information in good faith. "Unfortunately HGV movements were under reported and there is a need to update parts of the environmental statement.

"We are working hard to get this, and other information required, to the inspectors in an effort to bring the inquiry to a close as soon as possible."