It follows a series of meetings and months of lobbying by Dewsbury MP Shahid Malik who promised people living nearby that he would find a solution to their 'traffic nightmare' last summer.

The plans will see the creation of a new access route to the Mitchell Laithes site, which is likely to involve building a bridge over the River Calder.

The company hopes work could begin in spring 2010, subject to planning approval and securing the land needed, and be completed in 2011.

Since work began on a £25m upgrade of Mitchell Laithes last June, people living on Long Lane and Headland Lane have argued their roads are too narrow to cope with dozens of wagons every day.

After a year of complaints about noise, disruption and damage, the Yorkshire Water has finally agreed to build an alternative access route to the water treatment site.

Mr Malik said: "I'm delighted with the result. Yorkshire Water has shown compassion and demonstrated to us all that they are prepared to listen and that they actually care about the community in which they work.

"They have agreed to spend a substantial amount of money to ease the frustration of residents in Earlsheaton. It's been a tense twelve months or so, none more so than for residents on Long Lane, but we've worked in what we now know is the correct way and we've got the outcome we all wanted."

He thanked Yorkshire Water executives to taking the time to meet with him as well as Andy Talbot and councillors Eric Firth and Paul Kane for their role in the negotiations.

Yorkshire Water said residents' safety concerns, a review of future operations on the site and the potential for expansion had been the catalysts for change.

Richard Sears, Yorkshire Water's community relations manager, said: "We want to be a good neighbour and would like to thank the residents of Earlsheaton for the patience they have shown while we have evaluated the options open to us."

He said the company would also continue to take steps to minimise the impact of wagons visiting the site.