Yorkshire Water announced plans last year to lay the pipe from the outskirts of Bradford to the River Calder at Dewsbury.

The company plans to use the Greenway as its principal route.

YW had hoped to start the scheme last January but it is now expected to begin in October.

Mr Wood, who spearheaded the formation of the Greenway, fears the scheme could see the most popular and well used stretch, between Cleckheaton and Heckmondwike, closed and impassable for – at worst – the best part of three years.

He has now launched a petition lobbying YW to use the Spen Valley Ringway instead.

Mr Wood said: "Sustrans and local councillors are on board and we all want to see Yorkshire Water take steps to minimise disruption and inconvenience.

"The best way would be for them to use the Ringway route. It would also mean the Ringway would be in an improved state once the works are finished. The cost would be marginally more, but not excessively so when you look at the overall cost of the scheme.

"The Greenway is a hugely valuable amenity for people from across North Kirklees and further afield. It is one of our most significant regeneration success stories in the Spen Valley.

"Closing it for that length of time would be a disaster and Yorkshire Water's timetable could easily see the route out of commission for the best part of three years."

Mr Wood is also urging Kirklees Cabinet to bring pressure on YW to use the Ringway.

However Yorkshire Water denied some of Mr Wood's claims and said they were misleading.

A statement issued by the company said: "It is wrong to say YW will be closing the Greenway for three years as the company's plans clearly state that one section of the Greenway will be closed for six months and the second section (referred to by Mr Wood), will be closed in March for eight months.

"The company will also be putting diversions in place so customers can still cycle in the area - these are being developed in partnership with Kirklees Council.

"Yorkshire Water also refutes the claim that local councillors oppose the company's plans and has already had support from the Spen Valley Area Committee. The company already has plans to meet councillors and customers in August.

"Mr Wood cites the need to take the sewer pipe down the Ringway as an alternative to the Greenway, however YW must emphasise that there is no engineering solution to make this happen and the work would cause extreme disruption to Cleckheaton, Spenborough and Heckmondwike.

"Working with the local community and ensuring disruption is minimised is hugely important to YW which is why work didn't begin in January of this year. Over the course of this year, the company has been working to understand the best solution for the area with the least disruption for customers.

Mr Wood added: "This campaign is designed to keep local people informed about the implications of YW's plan as well as allowing them to let the company know how they feel about what is proposed.

"While ever the Greenway is a cheaper option it will be hard to convince YW to deviate from their preferred scheme. Hopefully local people will make it clear that they don't want this level of disruption and inconvenience just to save a private company what amounts to a marginal sum in the overall scheme."

For more details on Mr Wood's campaign visit www.mikewood.org.uk/defendthegreenway.htm or search for 'defend the greenway' on Facebook.

Copies of the petition can be found at the Guardian office.