The deputy leader of Cornwall Council has admitted that plans to create new cycle trails across Cornwall are a “mess” and he is not certain they will be delivered.

The Saints Trails is a £19million project to create four new multi-use trails in Cornwall which was hailed as a key scheme for the council.

However it has already been scaled back with some elements removed from the project and Highways England has clawed back £1m of funding for it.

The scheme has been fraught with problems with concerns about it running over budget and schedule and auditors had raised issues about it.

When it went to the council’s audit committee for consideration the service director Phil Mason gave an assurance that it could be delivered on budget and on time.

There were set to be four trails – one linking Truro to St Agnes; one from Trispen to Idless; a route from St Newlyn East to Carland Cross and the final section connects Perranporth to Newquay.

Two sections of the trails – Trispen to Truro and St Newlyn East to Carland Cross – have been be scrapped entirely while the section from St Agnes to Chiverton Cross has been scaled back and instead of a dedicated route the council is looking to have cycle paths which run on the existing road.

However at a meeting of full council today Perranporth councillor Steve Arthur asked for an update saying that local people were now calling it the “Shambles Trail”.

In response Philip Desmonde, Cabinet member for transport, said: “The Saints Trails has turned out to be a real problem. I have inherited a problem.

“I have been working hard with officers to see this project out, there are management issues, ownership issues. We have a business case being revised with a matter of urgency and the financial provision needs to be addressed urgently.”

David Harris, deputy leader of Cornwall Council, added: “This issue has already been to audit committee twice and is due to come back in January, it has taken up far too much time.

“I have raised questions about finances, the contracting and the land purchases and I have not had wholly satisfactory answers. I can’t see how this project can be brought in as envisaged.

“Certainly not envisaged at the time that a personal guarantee from the director that it would be brought in on time and on budget. I will be honest, it is somewhat of a mess.”

Cllr Arthur asked whether one of the problems had been the decision to award the contract for the project to the council-owned Cormac.

Cllr Harris replied: “A better answer to that question will come when we have looked further at this. One of the things I am looking at was how the direct award process has worked here and some of the fees charged within the structure by Cormac Solutions.”