Residents who have been waiting decades for a bypass to be built to ease traffic congestion through their village may not have to wait much longer.
People living in Long Stratton are to be updated on the plans for the new bypass as well as new housing in the area at a public exhibition this month.
Norfolk Homes will be holding the first of two public exhibitions at Long Stratton Methodist Church on Manor Road in Long Stratton on Monday, July 17.
And residents will have their chance to voice their views on any key issues and options that will inform the masterplan design process.
A second exhibition is to be arranged before the planning application is submitted later this year.
Michael Haslam, planning and development consultant said: 'There is clearly a lot of public support for the bypass, and I am hopeful that the emerging proposals will be supported locally.
'There is a lot of local concern that the bypass will be delivered but we are hoping it will be built early ahead of the houses being built.
'If you travel on the A140 through Long Stratton between 8am and 9am and 4.30 and 6pm there can be queues of up to a mile long - locals say it is a nightmare.
'It is in the public interest to get it built as quickly as possible to get rid of traffic jams.
'Residents have been pushing since the 1930s for a bypass - I hope it will be finally realised.'
South Norfolk Council's Area Action Plan for Long Stratton includes a scheme to build the £20m estimated bypass.
The plan also includes a blueprint to build 1,800 homes and create 12 hectares of employment land in Long Stratton. It covers up to 2026.
District councillor Kevin Worsley said: 'All public exhibitions are good things. It allows residents to ask questions and find out what's going on in their area.
'Long Stratton parish council are undertaking a neighbourhood plan to produce a framework planning document for use in the development of Long Stratton.
'They welcome public interaction at all phases of the plan.'
History of the bypass
The battle to get a bypass for Long Stratton has been going on for decades - it was first raised 80 years ago.
Back in the 1990s, it looked as if the road could be built as part of planning permission for the Churchfields estate, but that fell through.
Since then, a Long Stratton bypass committee, campaigning for an alternative route, has come and gone.
In 2008 South Norfolk Council sent questionnaires to local householders asking if they would back major housing expansion in return for the bypass.
But the results proved inconclusive, with respondents split broadly down the middle.
However the Joint Core Strategy which earmarked Long Stratton for 1,800 new homes brought new hope for those who want the bypass.
South Norfolk Council leader John Fuller has said that revenue created from those homes through developers would help fund the road.
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