Work has finally been completed on a 50m stretch of road at a cost of £147,000 - five years late and £47,000 over budget.

Years of debate delayed the completion of York Road on Victoria Industrial Estate, Burgess Hill, as planners argued over how the existing lengths of the road should be joined to provide a second entrance, linking the estate with Jane Murray Way.

The problem was resolved earlier this year and work began at the beginning of July.

Councillor Andrew MacNaughton, Cabinet member for environment with Mid Sussex District Council, said: "The council is delighted the link has finally been completed and a second entrance to the industrial estate provided.

"The delay in this project has been a source of aggravation to local residents, local businesses and the council.

"The delay in getting this work under way has caused an increase of almost 25 per cent in the cost of the project and at one time the council was even forced to the brink of a public inquiry.

"However, thankfully these problems have been resolved and the link road completed."

The cost of the project spiralled, partly because of inflation because the original budget was set five years ago and partly due to revisions to the scheme.

These were introduced to address the objections of the landowner and his tenants, whose land is affected by the work.

A number of existing parking spaces used by the Royal Mail will be lost.

It has been agreed that these will be replaced by a small extension of the existing Royal Mail car park.

Planning permission for the scheme was originally granted in 1997, although it had been proposed in the 1992 Burgess Hill Local Plan.

Christopher Hersey, chairman of the council, will be joined by Coun MacNaughton, fellow members of the council and representatives from local businesses to officially open the link road today at 2.45pm.