NEWS the Government is to fund the Westbury Bypass within the next three years is being treated cautiously by groups both for and against the road.

Transport Secretary Douglas Alexander announced on Thursday the road, for which campaigners have been battling for decades, has been included in a list the Government expects to fund by 2009.

Wiltshire County Council, which is due to submit plans for the £26m scheme, has welcomed the announcement as a green light for the bypass. The planned route would start at the bend in the A350 next to the turning to Lafarge Cement Works, go around the east of the town and rejoin the A350 at Madbrook Farm.

Cabinet member for environment, transport and economic development Cllr Fleur de rhe Philipe said: "This announcement from Government is a significant step towards delivery of the scheme. We're still a long way from getting there but it is encouragement to go forward with the next stage."

Members of the Westbury Bypass Now campaign group have also welcomed the announcement of provisional funding, but said they are well aware there are still obstacles to overcome.

Committee member Peter White said: "We are not proclaiming the Westbury Bypass is funded. We are very positive about the news but we are obviously cautious as well. We are happy the Government has recognised the scheme is needed. There are certain things to be put in place but it's an indication that the funding is there.

"What the county council has got to do is continue trying to resolve objections to the planning application. Once that is sorted out it can progress to the planning permission stage. "Then it will be onto the public inquiry, which is when the anti-bypass lobby will bring out the big guns."

Members of the A36/A350 corridor alliance, formed to bring together groups opposed to the bypass, have warned the decision is no guarantee the road will be built. Patrick Kinnersly, of ACA, said: "The scheme will get the money only if it overcomes all the planning and environmental obstacles."

He said the council still has to overcome environmental concerns and deal with the 800 people who have objected to the planning application. The county council is working to resolve environmental issues before it can go ahead to the planning stage. If it receives planning permission for the road, the scheme could progress to public inquiry by next summer.