VILLAGERS in Cwm will get the official go-ahead for a bypass road in the New Year after decades of campaigning for it, the Argus can reveal.

Assembly Members have been told in advance of the formal announcement that, unless they have any objections, the compulsory purchase orders needed for the scheme to go ahead will be passed when AMs return to work in January.

Blaenau Gwent AM Peter Law was delighted by the news.

He said: "This is a wonderful Christmas present for the people of Cwm and Blaenau Gwent. To release the people from the noise, nuisance, dust and road safety hazards is great news. It's vital for my constituency. I look forward to work beginning in spring 2002."

It was Mr Law who originally announced the road would go ahead when he was the Assembly minister for transport in 1999.

An Assembly government spokeswoman confirmed that the announcement would be made formally in the New Year.

She said: "The minister has approved the inspectors' report and intends to confirm the compulsory purchase order, but this is subject to Assembly procedures."

Under standing orders there is a period of ten working days where AMs can challenge the decision.

Mr Law said this would not happen.

"We have ten days to object, but I'm sure we all want to see progress. It's for sure that this will be confirmed now."

Regional AM Mike German also welcomed the granting of compulsory purchase orders for the road.

He said: "The people of Cwm have had to put up with lorries and heavy traffic moving right through the centre of the village. This announcement brings relief a step nearer."

He said the news showed the Assembly's commitment to dealing with the problems caused by traffic.

John Hopkins, leader of Blaenau Gwent council, said he welcomed the news wholeheartedly.

"This has been a long, long campaign by the people of Cwm, Blaenau Gwent council's highways authority and local MP Llew Smith and Assembly Member Peter Law," he said.

"Once the order is confirmed, it authorises the council to carry out all the necessary works to construct the new bypass.

"It means that Cwm will have a 21st-century highway at long last, and something to celebrate this Christmas."

Keith Barnes, chairman of the Cwm Action Group, said residents were delighted with the news.

"As far as we were concerned our case was overwhelming. We thought if we didn't win it this time, we would never win it," he said.

"Now we are just looking forward to seeing it come to fruition. This is a great thing for us." And he added that the village of Cwm now needed regenerating as well, to upgrade houses and boarded-up properties.

The new three-mile bypass will run from just south of Waunlwyd, to the A4046.

* In the picture: Cwm residents celebrate the bypass news. Photo: Mike Lewis