WATFORD councillors agreed to urge County Hall to halt the next phase of the town's Green Route scheme in Clarendon Road and the town centre ring road, pending the outcome of a review.

Conservative councillor Tim Williams tabled a motion at the full council meeting on Wednesday, July 19, calling for work planned this year on the controversial branch of the route - phase four - to be cancelled and, ultimately, for it to be scrapped.

He told the meeting the route, operating in St Albans Road and Station Road since August 1999, was causing more congestion, and not tackling it.

He said: 'It's a great idea but it just doesn't work.

'Why do bus lane restrictions have to operate for 24 hours a day for example, when there are no buses? It is quite ludicrous.'

However, Watford Council leader Vince Muspratt said: 'We can't go into a review with a predetermined notion of scrapping it.'

He put forward an amendment to councillor Williams' motion, wanting new work to the route to be put on hold until the review's outcome.

This should then be reported to the planning and highways committee.

The existing stages of the Green Route in the St Albans Road area were implemented in three phases throughout 18 months, and cost £1.5million.

It aims to improve access to the town for bus-users, cyclists and pedestrians, and to encourage motorists to use Stephenson Way to reach the town centre.

It has proved unpopular with shop keepers in St Albans Road, who believe it has resulted in fewer customers, and with some motorists, who feel it has led to longer delays.

Councillor Muspratt's motion was voted through.

A County Hall spokesman said: 'Councillors from Watford Council and Hertfordshire County Council will be meeting up over the coming weeks to discuss phase four as part of an overall review of the scheme.

'Proposals for this phase haven't been worked up yet but the plan is to ensure buses can get from stop to stop more easily.

'It is unlikely to involve long stretches of dedicated bus lanes.'