A controversial new road to link the A48 with the M4 is needed to help end ‘gridlock’ in the Vale of Glamorgan, the county’s regeneration chief has said.

Vale of Glamorgan Council has indicated a preferred route for the link road – which would link junction 34 of the M4 with the A48 south of Sycamore Cross.

The council now prefers the road would go to the west of the village of Pendoylan – rather than to the east as previously considered.

The scheme would also include a new railway station and park and ride near junction 34 of the M4 to link the motorway to Cardiff Airport.

The council’s ruling body on April 1 agreed to further studies on the proposed scheme and to take the findings forward to a full business case.

Councillor Jonathan Bird, cabinet member for regeneration and planning, told the meeting: “We’re becoming gridlocked certainly in the western part of the Vale. I’m very keen to see this come further forward otherwise the Vale of Glamorgan is going to grind to a halt.”

Campaigners say villagers have been left in limbo by the plans because as many as nine families – 10% of the village – in Pendoylan could be forced to leave their homes as part of the plans.

Campaigners say families are living daily with the anxiety and are unable to move on and sell their homes as the proposed new road is frightening potential buyers away.

They say one elderly resident of Pendoylan, now living in a residential home,  is unable to sell her house to pay for the care she needs as her property will be demolished to make way for the new road if the council’s plans proceed .

And Vale Communities For Future Generations say residents in Pendoylan and Peterston Super Ely could also be blighted by the air pollution and noise from HGVs if the road is built.

The council says “no firm decision” has been made to build a new road.