A bypass for Kingskerswell is overdue, both councils say

Plans for a Kingskerswell bypass were dropped by the Highways Agency from its national roads programme in 1996.

Devon County Council and Torbay Council say the A380 between Torquay and Newton Abbot is the county's most congested roads and a bypass is overdue.

They have "thrown their full weight" behind the scheme which is needed for the area's "future well-being".

Torbay is still served by a totally inadequate road Chris Harris, Torbay Council

Both councils have been working together for six years on a road scheme to link Torbay to "the national high quality road network".

Most of the proposed road would be the Teignbridge area, which comes under the county council's responsibility as the highways authority

But the southern end of the scheme falls within Torbay, so both councils needed to put in the application.

Torbay Council leader Chris Harris said: "The unanimous view was that we desperately need this scheme for the future well-being of Torbay and south Devon.

"It is crazy that such a large conurbation as Torbay is still served by a totally inadequate road along which thousands of vehicles have to crawl every day."

Economy boom

Devon County Council member David Morrish said: "This scheme is vital to encourage additional investment in South Devon and the development of the area's tourist industry.

"The added benefits of the new road speak for themselves. Within five years of construction of the bypass, �172m could be injected into the local economy with a boom in local businesses and the creation of 8,000 new jobs."

But there are still several stages before the road can be constructed, including funding issues and compulsory purchase of land.