ONE of the Government officials caught in a traffic jam during a fact-finding tour of Lancaster has denied claims that he called for a new road to be built.

Last week MP Hilton Dawson described how civil servant Peter Styche expressed the view that the area badly needed a new road after he and other officials were caught up in a city centre snarl up and had to abandon their vehicle and walk.

The MP made great capital out of the alleged views of the leading regional bureaucrat saying it boosted the case for the Western Bypass.

But this week Mr Styche denied making any such comments.

In a statement sent to local green activist, John Whitelegg, Mr Styche said: "I would not be so foolish as to say anything myself which would prejudice the Secretary of State's role in the planning process."

Describing the MP's spin-doctoring as "desperate," Prof Whitelegg said: "A huge fuss was made out something that was in fact inaccurate. Mr Styche has told me he wouldn't be so foolish as to make comments like this.

"I think it's indicative of a deeper issue that local supporters of the bypass are unable to argue the case on its merits and rely on desperate propaganda. The facts are that the bypass has twice been examined in detail by independent inspectors and has twice been thrown out."

He added: "It's a discredited scheme but they still try and lead us up blind alleys with ridiculous statements like 'our traffic is worse than London.' I think the district is badly let down by those who fail to check their sources and report the facts accurately."

Both Mr Styche, of the Government Office for the North West, and Mr Mike Shields, of the North West Development Agency, were in the city to view potential industrial and business development sites.

A city centre traffic jam forced them to abandon their vehicle at Moor Lane and walk along St George's Quay to inspect the Luneside regeneration area.

The Citizen contacted Mr Dawson's office to clear up the confusion but were informed that he was away until the end of August.