COUNTY chiefs have agreed to increase funding for Verwood’s long-planned southern distributor road by £2.53m.

The project, for a road diverting traffic from the town centre – to complement the northern distributor road built in 1999 – has been dogged by arguments between officials and landowners, leading to spiralling costs.

But yesterday, at Dorset County Council’s cabinet meeting, a report was nodded through by members agreeing to raise county funding to £6m.

County environment director Miles Butler told cabinet: “There has been a long and complicated history to this project, and this report shows we have reached a conclusion.”

The road’s future hinged on a land deal at Baker Farm, which is owned by developer Clemdell Ltd, who purchased the site in 2000.

Protracted negotiations between the council and Clemdell ensued, with the developer asking the Lands Tribunal to step in to determine the value of the site, in a bid to broker a deal.

However, eventually Clemdell agreed to a sealed offer.

A report to county councillors, from Miles Butler and corporate resources director Elaine Taylor, said: “The overall outcome for the county council is a good one.

“Clemdell’s long outstanding claim has been settled on acceptable terms which are affordable to the county council.

“In the face of a very significant claim and the risk of an adverse finding by the tribunal, the county council could have given in to pressure to negotiate a settlement with Clemdell.

“Instead, the strength of the county council’s case and preparedness led Clemdell to withdraw and accept the sealed offer.”

Exactly when construction will start at on the road is still unsure, but officers are confident the project will become a reality.

The project is expected to cost £8.22m, with a developer contribution of £2.2m, collected by East Dorset District Council. This leaves Dorset County Council with a £6m bill.