CONTROVERSIAL plans to build a £160million link road from the M5 at Clevedon to the A370 at Flax Bourton have taken a step closer

CONTROVERSIAL plans to build a £160million link road from the M5 at Clevedon to the A370 at Flax Bourton have taken a step closer.Consultants Atkins, which was commissioned to draw up the Greater Bristol Strategic Transport Study (GBSTS), has produced a final report which recommends the road should be considered.The road, which would be a dual carriageway, would follow the existing B3130 north of Nailsea and south of Tickenham and join the A370 between Flax Bourton and Cambridge Batch.It would cut through green belt protected land in Wraxall, Tickenham, Nailsea and Flax Bourton.If North Somerset Council agrees to drive ahead with the route, it would mean compulsory purchasing green belt and other land in Nailsea, Wraxall, Tickenham and Flax Bourton to build the road.The transport study has been two years in the making and is a blueprint for transport measures up to 2031.In the GBSTS final report it says 'outline alignments for the schemes have been identified for the purposes of appraisal but considerable detailed work is necessary in order to identify potential environmental and other constraints'.A final report has now gone to North Somerset Council for discussion.The news has been greeted with horror by local residents and councillors.In Flax Bourton the parish council has put the road plan on its agenda as an emergency item for its meeting on July 10.It is also considering organising a public meeting so concerned villagers can air their views.Parish council chairman Caz Hore-Ruthven said: "Our parish plan clearly shows people in the village want to protect their local environment. The traffic and environmental impact of this road on the village would be disastrous."Nailsea Town Council is also to discuss the road proposal at its meeting of the planning and environment committee tonight (Wed).WHAT do you think about the road plan? Write to us at Mailbox, North Somerset Times, 32 Waterloo Street, Weston-super-Mare, BS23 1LW. You can also e-mail us at nstimes@archant.co.uk or fax your letters to 01934 422600.