Re-routing the Rotherwas Access Road in South Hereford to avoid the newly unearthed Rotherwas Ribbon archaeological find could cost council taxpayers up to £110 million. This is one of the options facing Herefordshire Council when its cabinet meets on 6 September to discuss how the Bronze Age Ribbon can be best safeguarded for future generations.

A report to cabinet contains options for diverting the course of the road, which the business community says is essential for the future of firms located in Rotherwas. Options range from abandoning the road, which would cost £6 million, to building a bridge (£10 million) or creating a tunnel underneath the Ribbon (£110 million).

If any of these options are approved, council officers warn that the county faces serious financial challenges and other important projects would have to be halted. Instead, officers recommend that the building of the road continues, at a cost of £400,000, and that the existing Ribbon find is protected in line with archaeological best practice. Furthermore, the presumed course of the Ribbon, both north an

d south of the access road, should be investigated to ensure opportunities for tourism, heritage and education can be explored.

English Heritage has been involved with the Rotherwas access road since being consulted following the discovery of the Ribbon. Experts from English Heritage have advised that the engineering solution proposed by the council would provide appropriate long-term protection for the archaeological find. English Heritage is considering funding further archaeological investigation outside of the road corridor to enable the Rotherwas Ribbon's extent and character to be more fully defined.

The council stopped work on the Rotherwas access road around the Ribbon site earlier this year when the significance of the find was established. It announced the find to councillors and citizens in May. Plans to protect the Ribbon were initially put on hold after popular demand to see it. Around 1,000 people were given escorted tours during July.

The council covered over the site in August. Archaeologists conducted a fingertip clean of the surface to carefully remove any deposited silt and then a number of protective, weatherproof layers were put over the site to protect it.