The Halstead bypass saga has been rumbling on for decades.

For the past 30 years or more there have been calls for a new road to combat the gridlock that at times can almost paralyse our town centre.

The proposed solution has always been controversial.

Those against a bypass will argue that it cuts through countryside and will cause environmental damage.

Those in favour say it will improve the town centre by reducing traffic and ending congestion.

Certainly, taking HGVs away from the Head Street and Colchester Road junction would help other traffic flow more freely.

But news this week that the proposed bypass route is now "out of date" looks like putting us back to square one and starting all over again.

With hundreds of new homes being built in the town, traffic is only going to increase, putting extra pressure on existing roads.

But the bypass proposals are still not even a priority and with no government funding remain a long-term project - maybe even just a pipe dream.

If it takes another 30 years, and housing continues to go up at the current alarming rate, we won't be getting a bypass but an inner-city ring road.

The way the town is growing any bypass - if and when it is built - would soon become an inner ring road.