FURIOUS campaigners have accused Hampshire County Council of jeopardising plans to give Totton town centre a £22m facelift.

The county council's application for government funding has been hit by a 12-month delay after Whitehall officials said the scheme needed more work.

The revelation has angered members of Totton and Eling Town Council, who say the hold-up could kill the project.

Town councillors have spent years fighting for improvements to the main shopping area, which has been dubbed one of the worst in Hampshire.

A spokesman for the ruling Lib Dem group said: "The county council's application for over £20m to transform the town centre was expected to go forward in July.

"Unfortunately the authority has failed to fully prepare a major-scheme bid.

"Worse still, the government has changed the criteria for such bids and now favours schemes that reduce traffic congestion rather than those which provide more general environmental improvements.

"It means the chances of a successful bid in future years are significantly diminished."

Former town council chairman David Harrison said: "This news comes as a hammer blow to all who recognise how much Totton needs this investment."

"Our Conservative county councillors have been assuring us for months that all was well. Now we know differently."

Fellow councillor Robin Harrison said: "We've been looking to improve the town centre for years and relied on the county council undertaking the necessary work. Local people are going to feel utterly dismayed at this latest development."

Councillor Neal Scott commented: "I find it hard to believe that the county council has let us down so badly."

In a statement, county council leader Ken Thornber said the delay in seeking funding for the scheme followed talks with the Department of Transport.

The statement added: "The government's advice was that considerably more - and different work - would be required to demonstrate the scheme's viability, particularly its costs and benefits.

"On the basis of this advice, there is no reasonable prospect of preparing a successful scheme by the deadline of July 2004.

"Accordingly, we are working towards a submission in July 2005 as part of the county council's full transport plan. We firmly believe that this offers the best chance of securing government funding.

"Totton is completely deserving of major improvements and we are working hard to bring this bid forward as soon as we can."

Julian Lewis, Tory MP for New Forest East, said: "I've been putting maximum pressure on the county council to proceed with this scheme as soon as possible and will continue to do so."

Plans to transform the main shopping area were unveiled two years ago.

Proposals include a new town square at the junction of Ringwood Road and Salisbury Road and a village green-style facility in Water Lane.