A NEW bypass to route traffic around the village of Cannington is set to open this Thursday. The road will link the existing roundabout on the A39 Cannington southern bypass with the C182 (Rodway) which leads directly to Hinkley Point.

EDF Energy has worked in partnership with Somerset County Council, district and parish councillors and contractor Aggregate Industries to design and construct the bypass.

It is part of a £16 million package of road improvements paid for by EDF Energy as part of the Hinkley Point C development.

Cllr Colin Allen, chairman of Cannington Parish Council said: “It has always been our desire that this should be in place before the construction of Hinkley Point C started. The bypass is now there to be used before the main works commence and alleviates any serious problems that the traffic could have caused our village."