The second stage of the controversial A130 bypass, designed to ease traffic chaos in south Essex, has been given the go-ahead.

It will run from the road between Sadlers Farm and the Fairglen Interchange to the Rettendon Turnpike, to link with the northern section of the bypass to Chelmsford.

The completed bypass will halve journey times between north and south Essex.

Work on the northern section of the bypass is under way. It was delayed when hundreds of eco-warriors camped out for more than ten months in protest.

Now Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has approved the second stage. A planning inspector had declared there was a clear need for the bypass, which was within Government policy.

Opposition to the second stage of the A130 bypass was so strong Essex County Council's proposal was discussed by a public inquiry lasting five days.

Inspector Allan Blackeley spent eight months studying the scheme before granting it the green light.

He said in his conclusion: "There is a clear and present need for the A130 bypass from the A132 to the A127 and such a need is likely to grow given the projected increases in inter-urban traffic.

"The bypass is in accordance with Government policy and is not part of a hidden agenda for a London orbital outer road."

He added the bypass would bring "substantial direct traffic benefits together with economic, public transport, regeneration potential and safety benefits and these benefits would be significant and outweigh any adverse environmental impact."

Mr Blackeley said in his report he did not consider any of the eight alternative routes proposed to be better than the proposed route.

Ron Williams, cabinet member for strategic planning and transportation at Essex County Council, has spent 20 years fighting for a link road between the north and the south of the county and was overjoyed at the news.

He said: "I am delighted that at last we have the approval to go ahead with this very much-needed road.

"I have been campaigning for this road for over 20 years. It is an important road between two of the most important towns in Essex and the south and the north of the county.

"It will relieve some of the pressure on the M25 and will reduce the number of accidents that now occur.

"It will relieve an enormous amount of congestion that motorists have to suffer and this is really very good news."

Rolling ahead - work continues on the new bypass

Picture: ROBIN WOOSEY

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