WORK could be start on the long awaited Stubbington bypass by 2007.

Council chiefs have made the multi-million- pound road scheme a top priority.

Hampshire County Council's executive member for the environment Keith Estlin has backed the scheme to ease traffic congestion around the Fareham and Gosport peninsular.

If approved by the council's Cabinet next month, transport chiefs will be able to bid for government funding for the £25m project.

After ten years of waiting it's the news campaigners have been waiting for.

Motorists clogging up Gosport Road and Titchfield Road through the village bring traffic comes to a standstill in the rush hour.

It's only one of two routes out of Gosport and the most convenient for commuters heading for the A27 towards Southampton.

Arthur Mandry, Fareham council's executive member for planning and transportation, said: "Many residents support the bypass because of the existing traffic situation in Stubbington. If the bypass goes ahead it will relieve a lot of traffic problems at peak times."

Cllr Mandry said the existing traffic congestion had spilled out onto other Stubbington roads with motorists cutting through Moody Road, Crofton Lane and Cuckoo Lane.

Fareham council leader Sean Woodward said he was pleased with the recommendation.

"The scheme will see traffic taken around the village and ease the pressure on the A32."

However, the project had to overcome many more hurdles before it became reality.

As already reported in the Daily Echo, at least part of the route is already earmarked for use as a golf course.

He said: "It is certainly a good step towards the bypass. It will be up to Hampshire County Council to make sure the appropriate land is acquired for the route.

"I wouldn't want to end up with the same situation as Whiteley Way where the whole road was put on hold because the land could not be bought."

The proposed route of the bypass will go from Gosport Road, behind the Peel Common sewage works, across Peak Lane and Ranvilles Lane, coming out onto Titchfield Road opposite Hollam Hill Farm.

Land acquisition deals and planning permission will have to be secured before work can begin. A public consultation will also be carried out beforehand.

A county council spokesman said the plan is still in its early stages but very much on the drawing board.