A daily newspaper is leading a battle for a bypass to be built in Suffolk to make life easier for people living in four villages.

The East Anglian Daily Times launched its Bypass for the Villages campaign to end years of traffic misery for people living close to the busy A12,  a road from Ipswich-to-Lowestoft that has more than 18,000 vehicles travelling along it every day.

Villagers have been calling for a bypass to be built there for 30 years but the newspaper feels there is now more chance of being given the go ahead following proposals for a nuclear power plant to be built near-by.

Funding for a bypass scheme was withdrawn in 1996 but the proposed power plant, called Sizewell C, could be an opportunity for planners and campaigners.

As part of the campaign the paper has an on-going online petition which has so far been signed by 750 people.

EADT reporter Craig Robinson said the bypass had been an issue for quite a long time but looked more likely with the possibility of Sizewell C.

Said Craig: “The county council can’t afford to fund it so we thought EDF might be able to

“They have said they are willing to listen to the community, which is more promising than two or three years ago.”

A number of accidents and near misses have taken place on the road. These include lorries taking wind turbines to a nearby wind farm in Farnham coming close to hitting people’s houses on the narrow road.

Added Craig: “If Sizewell C gets the go ahead it will put more pressure on EDF.”

The newspaper believes the bypass needs to be built regardless of any other development to boost the economy of the county.

It would go from Wickham Market to Benhall and would ease the traffic going through Little Glemham, Marlesford, Stratford St Andrew and Farnham.