A PETITION has been launched in support of a bypass through Dinas Powys.

The online petition entitled "Dinas Powys bypass needed now" has already had more than 200 signatures since its launch at the end of last week.

The bypass, which has been mooted since a proposed route was drawn up in the 1920s, is not included in the current council administration's local development plan (LDP).

The petition comes after a public meeting which was described as "the village's biggest in 50 years" was held to discuss the proposal.

The petition description states: "Please support the urgent need of a Dinas Powys bypass.

"Do you want to be stuck in traffic with the extra cars this (house building) will generate? Its bad enough as it is.

"Take action now to sign the petition for the Dinas Powys bypass, then build the houses that are needed.

"Yes we need extra housing but put the infrastructure in place first."

Hopes of a bypass were given a boost in October when the Welsh Government economy minister Ken Skates said he would be willing to work with the Vale to find a fully funded solution to the "unique issue."

This is despite the Vale appearing to rule the project out in August due to a lack of funds while saying that it would not solve all the traffic issues in the area.

The Vale Conservatives have questioned whether the Vale council is listening to residents or whether they are willing to change their stance on the need for a bypass.

Conservative spokesman, Rod Harrod said: "With new housing developments being planned or built in the immediate areas of Cosmeston, Sully, Barry and Dinas Powys itself, over 15,000 extra vehicle trips a day will be added to the already grid-locked neighbourhood roads."

He also highlighted the council's push to encourage more use of public transport or cycling saying that train services are already packed, there is limited park and ride provision in the village and that there is a lack of pavements and cycle tracks on some of the main routes through Dinas Powys.

Plaid Cymru councillor Chris Franks said it is interesting that it is only now that the "folly" of approving over 10,000 houses in the Vale is being realised.

He said: "We have to ask why the council have suddenly woken up to the implications of more housing without proper roads and public transport.

"As planning committee members, Val Hartrey and myself have been objecting to the crazy plans to build houses without proper infrastructure such as a bypass.

"The Conservatives have supported just about every major development for the last ten years.

"At every occasion Plaid has pointed out the dreadful lack of road capacity and inadequate public transport."

Neil Moore, the leader of the Vale of Glamorgan Council said he is well aware of the issues being raised concerning the potential for a Dinas Powys by-pass but that the council's position is very clear and has been for many years, including the time when the Conservatives were in charge of the Vale of Glamorgan Council.

He said: "It is a pity that both Plaid Cymru and the Conservatives in Dinas Powys are playing political football with this issue, when they know the situation very well.

"I am abundantly aware of the statements made by the first minister and the cabinet secretary for economy and infrastructure, when asked a question in the Welsh Assembly.

"Both implied that they would consider funding for such a route if the Vale of Glamorgan Council raised the issue.

"This was all well and good, provided there were two things.

"One the route and two the money from the Welsh Government to pay for the by-pass itself. Neither are currently available.

"It is also something of an irony that the Conservatives are making this play when their own council did nothing to promote the by-pass.

"In fact, in their draft Local Development Plan (LDP) they allocated the site referred to for the bypass for a housing development.

"That remains the situation in the newly deposited LDP."