THE long-awaited opening of the link road from Priddy's Hard to the A32 will be a month behind schedule, in May.

The news was greeted with dismay by Explosion! museum bosses, who have fallen short of their visitor targets because of inadequate access to the attraction.

Members of Gosport Borough Council's cross-party committee overseeing the regeneration of the Priddy's Hard heritage area say it is yet another setback to their plans.

The unexpected delay has been caused because of problems laying the road in such close proximity to the new 700-home Barratt estate in Priddy's Hard.

Steven Wilks, managing director of the Southampton division of Barratt Homes, was unable to set an exact date but is optimistic the link road will open in May.

Explosion! director Michael Nutt said: "Any delays are disappointing for us and we had been looking forward to having the access road in place in April.

"When it is eventually open it will make it easier for people coming to the museum over the May bank holiday."

Cross-party committee member and Gosport Borough Council leader Peter Edgar said the latest delay was "very sad".

He also pointed out that when the link road is opened it will ease congestion along Elson Road.

A family of badgers held up the construction of the road last year because they had to be relocated to Ministry of Defence land at Elson.

Contractors discovered the badger sett near the route of the road linking the private estate to the A32.

Meanwhile, the museum and Gosport Borough Council are still in talks about the possibility of installing a pontoon to take visitors from a waterbus.

The cross-party committee is preparing to appoint marketing consultants with a view to marketing the Priddy's Hard heritage area.

Members are keen to see the former Ministry of Defence site turned into a thriving leisure destination.