A STUDY looking to alleviate problems in a traffic-choked Suffolk town have been welcomed by campaigners - although residents are no clearer to knowing whether they will finally get a £30million bypass.

A STUDY looking to alleviate problems in a traffic-choked Suffolk town have been welcomed by campaigners - although residents are no clearer to knowing whether they will finally get a £30million bypass.

Residents in Brandon, backed by west Suffolk MP Richard Spring, have for years urged traffic chiefs to make a bypass in their town a transport priority.

Now Suffolk County Council has begun a study of the A1065 road through the town after “vigorous” campaigning and lobbying.

Welcoming the news, Mr Spring, who is also president of Brandon Action Group, said: “The issue is extremely important as residents' quality in life in Brandon has been hugely impaired.

“I am pleased that Suffolk County Council has recognised the extent of the problems that exist in Brandon and that they have rated it highly in county priorities.

“But unfortunately these decisions are often out of the hands of county councils and we have to hope Government takes a similar view over its importance.”

Mr Spring met with Guy McGregor, portfolio holder for roads and transport, on Friday and described the meeting as encouraging.

“We had a very good meeting and I am pleased with the county council's professional analysis of the situation.

“This is an extremely important meeting. For me it is a key stage in the drawn out process of trying to secure a bypass for Brandon.

“After many years of vigorous campaigning and lobbying, I was pleased when Mr McGregor confirmed to me earlier this year that the A1065 Brandon study had been announced.”

The bypass is on the council's list of priority sites in the local transport plan to be presented to the council in December.

Mr McGregor, said: “We are concerned about the situation in Brandon. The conditions are caused by the volume of traffic and it is not acceptable.

“We want to make it an attractive place to live and work but it is not a pleasant place to be when lorries are stopping at junctions in the centre of the town producing fumes.

“We will look again at the options and look forward to the report and we will be seeking Mr Spring's ideas on this.”

The A1065 study process will study the traffic problems affecting Brandon including medium and short-term strategies to try to improve the situation in the town, whilst a long-term project is evolving with discussions with the Department of Transport planned.