Contractor steps in to build long-awaited £56m bypass

New contractors have been found for the Banwell bypass scheme after the previous ones unexpectedly pulled out

New contractors have stepped in to build a long-awaited bypass proposed for a congested village.

Work had been due to start on the bypass around Banwell, North Somerset, in May but the previous contractors unexpectedly pulled out.

North Somerset Council said it remained committed to the £56.5m project and hopes new contractors Galliford Try will start work later this year.

Council leader Mike Bell said: "We’re raring to go and to get spades in the ground as soon as we can."

Banwell has been plagued by high levels of traffic for many years, with plans for a bypass first proposed in 1927.

Residents say it can sometimes be a "living hell", according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Two A-roads funnel traffic into the village and at one point, the road becomes a narrow, single track between houses and a bakery.

The bypass was granted planning permission in March 2023 and a public inquiry into the compulsory purchase of land needed for the scheme was held on Weston-super-Mare’s Grand Pier in the summer.

Traffic funnels into a narrow single-lane road in the village

Galliford Try will take on the scheme in place of Alun Griffiths, which pulled out of the project in March.

Mr Bell said: “Banwell bypass is a vital scheme for North Somerset. One that will alleviate a century of traffic congestion from Banwell village and will also unlock sites for new housing, helping us grasp the benefit of regional growth.

"The scheme also includes miles of walking and cycling tracks, along with a substantial biodiversity net gain.”

Funding for the bypass has been provided by Homes England.