THE summer of hell predicted for Marlow's drivers could become a winter of discontent after the £12million Handy Cross improvement scheme was put on ice.

A row over costs between the Highways Agency and the scheme's contractor Edmund Nuttall has delayed the start of the project.

Work was due to begin this month, and an exhibition scheduled at the weekend explaining the work, was cancelled.

Marlow Mayor Cllr Roger Wilson said he was disappointed with the news because the measures were essential to improve traffic flow at the roundabout, and reduce levels on the A404 Marlow bypass.

He said: "It sounds like something Highways should have sorted out ages ago and they have had enough experience of contractors to be able to get everything sorted out by the time work should commence.

"Those new proposed slip routes would certainly relieve traffic off the A404."

Phil Barnett, the Highways Agency's project manager, explai-ned Edmund Nuttall wanted a higher price than the agency would like and that the cost had to be agreed before work commenced.

He said he hoped the problem would soon be solved, but admitted the delay was embarrassing.

"We think we can get round the problem," he said.

Mr Barnett added that the agency has the ability to look for another contractor, but he did not want to do that because it would cause further delays.

He also revealed that he could not say "categorically" if the project would be called off completely, especially when the Government wanted value for taxpayers' money.

The Handy Cross scheme is designed to greatly improve traffic flow through the busy junction.

At the same time there will also be major improvements to the road surface of the roundabout, which is heavily potholed, and work to waterproof the bridges.

Mike Knight, Buckinghamshire County Council's Wycombe area manager said the Highways Agency had to look at all its costs.

He said: "I am concerned beca-use we have all been working towards this for a long time and anything that holds it up can have a knock-on effect."

He said Edmund Nuttall had been signed up for some time so there would be inflationary costs, but there had been no significant changes to the design to make a big difference to the price of the work.

However, he explained the Highways Agency had to be careful with anything involving Government works because of the worry over costs.

Peter Cartwright, Wycombe District Council's cabinet member for transport, and his opposite number on the county council, Val Letheren, both said any delay was "most unwelcome".

Edmund Nuttall declined to comment on the delays.