IT'S D-Day for the controversial Western Bypass with Government Ministers deciding which road schemes are to get the go-ahead this week.

The Government has said 100 road building projects across the country will get the vital funding needed to get them off the ground.

And local supporters of the bypass are hoping the £52 million M6 road link will be one of the schemes to be given a funding boost.

Morecambe MP Geraldine Smith has had 11th hour talks with Transport Minister Keith Smith to press home the need for the road.

But the link road has yet to get planning permission and has been rejected by two Government inspectors making it one of the outsiders for funding.

The crucial decision is thought to have been made this week but there will not be a public announcement until early December.

Talking about her meeting with the Minister, Geraldine explained that he was concerned about granting approval for the Western Bypass before it had been accepted as part of the Local Plan or had been published for public consultation.

She said: "Although the Western Bypass has not yet received planning approval I believe that a conditional commitment to funding the road can be made at this stage without pre-empting the decision of the Secretary of State. I was able to give the Minister the information and assurances he required and I am extremely hopeful of a positive outcome regarding the funding of the bypass."

The latest amended version of the plans are said to be less damaging to the environment because they entail only a single carriageway which has reduced the costs from £90 million to £52 million.

Green campaigners say the new road will have little impact on city centre traffic congestion and the money would be better spent on an effective public transport system.