A LONG awaited £25million Hampshire bypass plan has moved a step closer after a raft of road improvements was given the green light.

For decades residents have been calling for a bypass around the village of Stubbington to alleviate congestions and to improve access to Fareham and Gosport.

But today county council transport chief Sean Woodward rubber-stamped plans that will push ahead for road scheme that will answer their prayers.

The preferred option is to link Titchfield gyratory and Titchfield Road to Gosport Road and Peel Common roundabout.

Also winning his seal of approved were improvements allowing more traffic capacity at Peel Common roundabout, Newgate southern section and on junctions of the A27 corridor which will also be widened.

Passing the plans, Cllr Sean Woodward said: “I have no doubt if this package is delivered it will a transformation for Fareham and Gosport. It will be a game changer.”

Cllr Woodward said that the improved roads would also boost plans to transform the old HMS Daedalus site into the job creating Solent Enterprise Zone.

He added: “Without any doubt we would not even be looking for a package like this if it wasn’t for the enterprise zone at Daedalus.”

It is hoped that work can be completed within the next three years after the Government and Solent Local Enterprise Partnership grant funding.

Planning permission will also need to be sought from Fareham Borough Council for the bypass and associated improvements to Titchfield Road, Peel Common roundabout and the Newgate Lane southern section.

A consultation of residents on the road schemes found a majority in favour.

But bypass objector Jo Frew, of Ranvilles Lane, Fareham, said the consultation had been “flawed” because most residents of south Fareham and Tichfield did take part.

She said they did not receive leaflets and were unaware of what was planned on their doorstep.

Making a deputation at Cllr Woodward’s decision day, she said: “These were sent to areas that would benefit from the bypass, not those most affected.”

Also winning approval were plans to permanently open Yew Tree Drive bus gate in Whiteley.

The automatic bollards protecting a bus lane have been the subject of nearly two years of council debates.

From February to the end of May this year the bollards were lowered and the road opened to traffic for a trial period.

A public consultation was then carried out which found 86 per cent of those who responded supporting the permanent opening of the bus gate.