MPs rejoice as £25m is secured for Stubbington bypass and M27 works

Fareham and Gosport's MPs have expressed their delight after councillor reveals funding update
Millions of pounds has been pledged towards two major road schemesMillions of pounds has been pledged towards two major road schemes
Millions of pounds has been pledged towards two major road schemes

Councillor Sean Woodward, executive leader of Fareham Borough Council revealed £15m has been won from Highways England to make junction 10 of the M27 open to east and westbound traffic. Currently traffic can only leave the motorway on the westbound side, and join it to head eastbound.

And Cllr Woodward said his final act as cabinet member for transport at Hampshire County Council in March was to secure £10m from the authority towards the £35m Stubbington bypass.

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The 2.5-mile long road would link Titchfield Road to Gosport Road, and cut across land designated as a strategic gap. It was approved by the council last October.

Cllr Woodward said on the funding: ‘Both these projects are vital to our aims to cut road congestion around Fareham and for those driving between the town and Gosport.

‘These funds show the work we are doing is paying off.

Cllr Woodward confirmed the council is to meet prospective Welborne developers, which will need to contribute a further £30m to fund the junction 10 improvements.

He added that a bid for the further £25m in funding needed for the bypass project has been submitted to Whitehall through the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership.

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The council will hear in the autumn whether it has secured the funds. Work on the project could start next summer and last two years.

Gosport MP Caroline Dinenage was pleased with the cash injection.

She said: ‘I’ve long campaigned for the Stubbington bypass as a vital part of the solution to our traffic problems.

‘An alternative access route to the Gosport peninsula is the only way to ease the burden on our congested roads and unlock the economic potential of our area.

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‘Our efforts over the last few years helped to secure funding for the preliminary work on the Stubbington bypass and I’m delighted that Cllr Woodward has secured £10m from the county council.’

‘This will make a big difference when the Solent LEP bids for the remaining funding as it will demonstrate to the government how much local stakeholders want to complete this desperately-needed project.’

Fareham MP Suella Fernandes also spoke of her support.

She said: ‘These improvements are badly needed and will be hugely welcomed by people locally if they finally happen.

‘I’ve been working closely with the council and lobbying the government to provide funding and I hope we will be successful.’