Campaigners from Byram, Brotherton and Fairburn fought for 30 years to get the busy A1 upgraded and moved, but now they claim village roads could again become busy with hurtling wagons when the Lafarge plasterboard company, based on the Ferrybridge power station site, becomes fully operational.

Residents have been told that dozens of HGVs heading for the motorway will have to drive north to the Belmont roundabout, near Fairburn, before turning round and heading back down the same road to link to the motorway – a three mile round trip which would bring the HGVs through the picturesque villages.

Villagers say the solution is a £500,000 roundabout located between Brotherton and Ferrybridge, which they claim would save their roads from the lorries’ noise and pollution.

But funding, due to be shared equally between Wakefield Council, Lafarge, Scottish and Southern Power and North Yorkshire County Council is now in doubt as the latter seems unwilling to stump up its quarter of the costs.

Brotherton parish councillor Don Simpson said: “This route for the lorries totally defeats the object of why the A1 was moved and extended in the first place. The A1 was about bringing peace back to the villages.”

Rita Stephenson, chairwoman of Fairburn Parish Council, said: “This roundabout would solve our problem, but because of the county council’s objections, the whole thing is stalling. We might as well have left the A1 where it was if the new roundabout doesn’t get built.”

Fairburn councillors also claim that wagons from the factory heading north will ignore the 7.5 tonne weight limit imposed on the road passing through their village.

Brotherton parish councillor Rob Milner added: “We don’t want to let this fight fade away. Traffic can only get worse and although the roundabout isn’t ideal, it is the only solution.”

A spokesman for Scottish and Southern Energy said: “Scottish and Southern Energy strives to maximise the use of sustainable transport and minimise where possible road transport and our impact on the community.

“Ferrybridge values its good neighbour reputation and strives to work with the community. All requests for help and support are given appropriate consideration and we remain committed to working with the local authorities to obtain a mutually acceptable solution.”

A spokesman from North Yorkshire County Council said the roundabout scheme had been assessed and “does not rank sufficiently high to attract the level of funding requested by Wakefield Council.

“However the county council will consider what contribution could be made towards the project as there is some benefit to the residents of North Yorkshire. We will continue to discuss the issue with the other parties involved.”

A spokesman for Wakefield Council said: “We’re still involved with providing the roundabout and we’re not aware of North Yorkshire County Council changing its mind regarding the funding.