HIGHWAY chiefs are being urged to build a relief road at Lyndhurst to reduce jams and improve air quality.

Hampshire county councillor Mel Kendal has re-ignited controversy over a Lyndhurst bypass by publishing proposals for an 880-metre road around the south-east of the village.

The new highway would branch off the A337 Lyndhurst to Brockenhurst near the old Cattle Breeders' Centre.

It would pass behind New Forest District Council's offices at Appletree Court and join up with the B3056 Lyndhurst to Beaulieu Road.

The scheme involves a roundabout at each end of the new road - and a third where the B3056 joins the A35.

Lyndhurst is one of the Forest's biggest bottlenecks. As reported in the Daily Echo, air quality in the traffic-choked High Street is worse than in the Fawley refinery area.

Cllr Kendal says a relief road would reduce the number of vehicles in the shopping area.

He will outline his proposal at next week's New Forest Transportation Strategy meeting.