ENVIRONMENTALISTS have condemned the Government's decision to invest millions of pounds in a new dual carriageway across the Pennines, claiming an upgraded A66 could herald a new surge of road-building across the UK.

Transport Minister John Spellar confirmed on Thursday that Westminster is to come up with the cash to improve Britain's worst road between Scotch Corner, in North Yorkshire, and Penrith, in Cumbria.

The news delighted campaigners who have fought for dualling for decades, spurred on by dozens of deaths which have spiralled in number as more and more traffic pours on to the roads.

But green causes are equally adamant that smaller projects could have been just as effective in the battle to make the road safer.

Director of Transport 2000 Stephen Joseph said: "As world leaders gather in Johannesburg for the Earth Summit, the Government is starting to trash more of Britain's environment.

"The A66 dualling will damage Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), including some of international importance, and will also go through the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Mitigation measures will not make up for this intrusion."

Mr Joseph said the group feared beefing up the A66 scheme could mean other more environmentally- friendly projects could lose out while signalling a new era of road-building across the UK.

"If the Government repeats this decision elsewhere, we could see a vast new road-building programme, with most motorways widened to eight, ten or even 12 lanes, and a lot of other new roads across Britain's countryside.

"This will add to Britain's already shameful record as the European country with the highest car use, and sets an appalling example to developing countries.

"Transport Minister Alistair Darling has said he does not want to concrete over Britain's countryside.

"With this decision, and the recent airport proposals, he is well on the way to doing so."

Cumbria Transport 2000 representative Jane Parsler was a member of the A66 Study steering group, which formulated the proposals announced this week.

She said: "The study has been biased from the start and we have had to fight every inch of the way even to get non-dualling safety options considered. This outcome suggests the study process is a farce. It takes the dual carriageway up to the edge of the Lake District National Park and will substantially increase traffic levels and pressure for road-building in the area."

Transport 2000 claims dualling the A66 will threaten the River Eden valley, which is an SSSI and a candidate for designation as a Special Area of Conservation, which has international protection under the European Habitats Directive.