Transport chiefs have dropped a bombshell over desperately-needed improvements at Bletchley's B&Q roundabout.

Milton Keynes Council has revealed the re-development of the junction originally planned last Christmas and then put back until the summer will not now go ahead until next year.

Opposition Tories are demanding ruling Lib-Dems "stop making announcements with fanfares" and take action.

News of a further delay to the B&Q scheme was buried in a press statement from the council on Friday.

It said the work – which was to have seen a lights-controlled junction replace the mini-roundabouts – would not go ahead as planned "in response to what the community have said."

This was a reference to views expressed by the parish council and residents at an exhibition on the scheme.

The city council will now review traffic issues for the town as a whole. There will be fresh public consultation on plans to "deliver improvements to this busy junction next year."

Council leader Sam Crooks said people wanted to wait and see what affect forthcoming changes to the Granby junction close-by had on the B&Q crossover.

There was also the possibility of easing congestion at B&Q by removing pedestrian crossings close to Tesco.

The council remained determined to deal with the problem and funding
for the job was being protected.

Mr Crooks said: "It is absolutely critical that we get it right and that we don't transfer the problem to somewhere else in the town."

Deputy leader of the council Conservative group Councillor Catriona Morris said: "The Lib Dems need to stop making announcements with fanfares and get on and do things.

"This has gone on for a long time. There have been lots of discussions with lots of different people. It is very frustrating for residents.

"However, we do need to make sure it is going to work."

Improvements to the Granby roundabout just a few hundred yards further along the V4 are to go ahead over the next few months.

The aim is to increase capacity by adding a fourth arm, which the council says will provide a safer, additional means of entry to the Denbigh industrial estate and take traffic away from the B&Q junction.