The route is a notorious bottleneck

Supporters of the scheme had hoped an inquiry could be avoided.

But, with one day of consultation left to go, it has emerged that objections received so far mean a hearing is now inevitable.

The news means the scheme could be delayed by at least another year.

We were very confident the case had been made for this Thelma Sorensen, Cornwall Economic Forum

Every day during the summer more than 30,000 cars travel along the seven-mile stretch of road between Bodmin and Indian Queens.

The route is a notorious bottleneck and there have been discussions about improvements for years.

Plans for the bypass, skirting around the northern edge of Goss Moor, have been subject to public consultation for three months, which ends on Thursday.

The Highways Agency has now confirmed a public inquiry will be held before it decides the future of the road.

Of the representations received so far, 134 are said to be letters of support for the bypass scheme; 15 are objections and 10 points of observation.

Too important

The letters of objection are said to be too important to ignore.

"There are a range of objections, some are certainly from those directly affected who have got concerns, often with small details," said Peter Bartlett from the Highways Agency.

"Some of them are of a more fundamental nature, where people perhaps disagree with the fact the road needs to be improved at all."

Thelma Sorensen, of the Cornwall Economic Forum, said there would be a "sense of disbelief and deep despair" at the delay.

'Open forum'

"We are all working so hard to achieve the economic regeneration of Cornwall, we were very confident the case had been made for this," she said.

But opponents of the scheme have welcomed news of the inquiry.

"We are pleased that it's going to happen," said Sarah Wright of Friends of the Earth, Cornwall.