The upgraded route would help traffic flow to Devon and Cornwall

The proposal to improve the A303/A30 between Ilminster and Exeter is being put to the county council in a report from County Environment Director Edward Chorlton.

His report is in response to a study which has been conducted by the Highways Agency into options for improving the national trunk road network between Ilminster and Exeter.

Members of the council's executive who are due to meet on 24 February will be told the arguments in favour of this route far outweigh those put forward for improving an alternative route via the A358/M5.

The debate about improving the A303/A30 route has gone on for far too long David Morrish, Devon County Council

The county council's views on the two routes will be forwarded to the South West Regional Assembly, which is to hold hearings on 24 March. The matter will then go to a meeting of the full assembly on 30 April.

There have been plans for improving the A303/A30 corridor from the M3 to Devon and Cornwall for many years.

In his study, Mr Chorlton said the A303/A30 would provide significant journey time savings and reliability benefits for strategic London/South East to Devon/Cornwall traffic, whereas the A358/M5 would not give similar journey time savings.

The upgraded route would also provide a complete second strategic route to Exeter, plus provide additional capacity to accommodate peak weekend and bank holiday flows to and from Devon and Cornwall.

The A358/M5 would not provide additional capacity and the M5 west of Taunton is already close to capacity at these times.

Councillor David Morrish said: "This is a very important issue. The debate about improving the A303/A30 route to London has gone on for far too long.

"It is very frustrating that this whole question of which route to use was thoroughly examined in the mid 90s and is now being looked at again. In my view the case for improving the A303/A30 is clear and we need to move it forward as quickly as possible.

"The business communities in Devon and Cornwall have indicated their strongly held belief that a second strategic route should be provided by upgrading the A303/A30."