HIGHWAYS chiefs have dismayed Crediton link road campaigners by backing proposals for the less popular hillside route and ending hopes there will one day be a full bypass.

Devon County Council officers think the popular western and valley routes should be dropped at tomorrow's cabinet meeting and approval given to the £7.75m hillside route.

An additional recommendation says plans for a bypass, which would take traffic right round the north side of the town, should be dropped from Mid Devon District Council's local development framework.

Planners say the bypass would cost £40m and stand no chance of attracting Government funding or getting through a public inquiry.

For full story, see this week's Crediton edition of the Mid Devon Gazette series.