HOPES that traffic issues in two villages could be solved by a bypass have been scuppered after a funding bid was turned down by the Government.

Somerset County Council has pledged to continue to approach the Government for cash to fund an alternative solution to ease problems affecting Walton and Ashcott on the A39 Bath Road.

It comes after the Department for Transport (DfT) gave notice that the bypass proposal had not been selected for funding.

County Hall designers had submitted initial proposals for the bypass around the two villages early last year.

The existing narrow route through means the volume of passing traffic, including a large numbers of HGVs, has a significant impact on local residents.

The county's lead member for transport and digital, Cllr Mike Rigby, said: “We're disappointed at the decision, but we understand the pressures on public finances both nationally and of course locally.

“We’ll continue urging the DfT to help us look at issues on the route and seek to understand opportunities for further investment.”

Cllr Andrea Davis, chairman of the Peninsula Transport Sub-National Transport Body, which is responsible for making recommendations to Government about priorities for major transport schemes in the region, said: "The A39 is an important route supporting economic activity in our region and we are extremely disappointed that the scheme will not progress.

“We hope that Government will consider alternative smaller scale investments to help improve the route."