WYRE Forest Conservatives are at odds over costs for Stourport-on-Severn's proposed relief road despite councillors agreeing to buy land paving the way for the scheme.

Worcestershire County Council's cabinet recently agreed to buy land to the value of £465,000 off Tim-er Lane, Greenfields, and to buy other plots along the proposed route.

Mark Garnier, the Tory's parliamentary spokesman for Wyre Forest, said: "This project was first raised in the 1970s, since then costs have gone up, with the 2004 proposal costed at £47 million. County council cabinet chairman George Lord he said the costs are going to be between £76 million and £80 million, which is to do with the fact the price of road building and land has gone up."

He said the revised figure was worked out by applying a formula to the 2004 sum, showing rate-of -inflation increases on local government schemes.

Stephen Clee, former leader of Wyre Forest Conservative Party, said: "I haven't seen that figure and the officers at County Hall haven't costed it."

The £47 million project costs were based on a 2004 feasibility study, carried out by the county council.

Mr Clee said it would be pointless drawing up fresh plans and costs with no realistic prospect of the road getting the go ahead.

As district council leader in 2005, Mr Clee hosted the Conservative Party's then Shadow Transport Minister Tim Yeo on a visit to Wyre Forest. Mr Yeo pledged to safeguard the road scheme proposal under a future Tory government. Since then, David Cameron has taken over as Tory leader and there has been a re-shuffle of the shadow cabinet. The bypass is set to remain in limbo.