A LONG-AWAITED £25m 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 congestion and to improve access to Fareham and Gosport.

Yesterday county council transport chief Sean Woodward rubberstamped plans that will push ahead for a 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 be turned into a dual carriageway.

Cllr Sean Woodward said: “I have no doubt if this package is delivered it will be 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.

It is hoped that work can be completed within the next three years.