Newtown, Powys, bypass plans to be unveiled

Plans for a bypass in Newtown, Powys, will be unveiled to the public this summer following a campaign spanning more than half a century.

The Welsh Assembly said it is planning to make an announcement on the preferred route option for the long-awaited Newtown bypass by the end of this summer.

Campaigners hope it will finally bring a solution to the bottleneck caused by the A483 through the town.

A public consultation took place last September, which involved residents voting on their favoured route option.

Six options to reduce congestion and improve safety were put forward by the Welsh Assembly.

A Welsh Assembly spokesman said an announcement would be made soon.

He said: "The appraisal of options for Newtown is now complete and I expect to make an announcement towards the end of the summer period."

Nick Bourne, Welsh Conservative Assembly Member for Mid and West Wales, said he was looking forward to the announcement.

"I welcome this statement and look forward to the Minister announcing his preferred route for this much needed bypass shortly.

"I've been working on trying to get them to release the preferred option for some time and hope the Assembly stand by what has been said."

Mayor of Newtown, Councillor Joy Jones, said: "The preferred route needs to be released to the public. We desperately need a bypass here in Newtown and we need things to keep moving in order to get this bypass.

"Residents in the town are getting fed up with waiting for something to be done and this announcement should have been made a long time ago.

"It's just getting beyond a joke now, the town is in danger of being choked by traffic and the amount of traffic just seems to be getting more and more.

"I've already had people from the West Midlands writing to me and complaining about it and saying they have been put off travelling through Newtown ever again.

"The town can't go on like this because it's unfair to the residents, businesses and everyone else who has to drive through it. I just hope the Welsh Assembly stands by what has been said."

By Anwen Evans