NORTH Somerset Council has decided to enter into the next stage of a contract to deliver the long-awaited Banwell bypass with Alun Griffiths Ltd.
The decision was made at a full council meeting held last night (Tuesday, November 14).
According to a council spokesperson, this decision was made "unanimously."
Compulsory Purchase Orders are needed to acquire the land needed to build the bypass, the outcome of which is expected before the end of this year.
The village of Banwell on the northern slopes of the Mendip Hills has been calling for a bypass to be built around it for decades.
The A371 carries traffic from Weston-super-Mare right through the heart of the village, where the road narrows down to a small lane, causing frequent congestion.
Griffiths took on Stage One of the contract in 2021, which saw the delivery of consultation, preliminary design and planning submission.
Stage Two will include the detailed design and construction of the bypass, as well as mitigation measures in nearby villages that will be delivered before the bypass opens.
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