COUNTY council transport bosses have been accused of wasting hundreds of thousands of pounds of taxpayers' money after the executive board rubber stamped a major U-turn on the authority's speed management policy.

As reported in last week's Somerset County Gazette, the county council is backtracking on policies like the wholesale use of 40mph buffer zones and full-time limits outside schools.

A working party is now re-designing the council's policy, which should be ready and in force by April.

The new approach will also include a review of unpopular speed limits on major roads like A358, the A38 and the A361.

West Somerset's Tory MP Ian Liddell-Grainger, who has been a fierce opponent of the speed limit policy, said he would be sending council leader Cathy Bakewell to Coventry.

"I'm delighted that common sense has prevailed, but I'm livid the county council has spent up to £1.5million on the policy so far, and will spend about half a million more in removing limits.

"Constituents have written to me asking that it be reported to the local government ombudsman for mal-administration.

"As he's based in Coventry, I'll be sending the matter there!"

This week, transport boss Cllr Tim Carroll said the council had spent £1.2million on the programme so far.

In the project's first year, £700,000 was spent on installing 39 30mph limits and seven 20mph zones, as well as various other projects including an educational video and highways reports.

So far this year a further £500,000 has gone on 18 30mph limits and 13 20mph zones.

Cllr Carroll said: "The money has not been completely wasted as not all the speed limits are going to come out -- we're going to review the major roads.

"If the ombudsman wants to investigate, we will co-operate in any way we can as we reject the charge that there has been any mal-administration.

"We are used to wild charges from Ian Liddell-Grainger."

More than 2,000 people took part in a consultation process on the council's speed limits.