Town councillors have welcomed news that plans for a new link road from the A46 at Stoneleigh appear to have fallen to the wayside.

Kenilworth councillors have criticised the strategic link road scheme to the University of Warwick over the past few years, with Warwick District Council officially calling for the scheme to be re-evaluated in 2021.

The road - predicted to cost at least £60 million - could cut across greenbelt land from the A46, go between HS2 and the University of Warwick, through the wood planted to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, before joining Westwood Heath Road.

When first put forward, locals were told the road would help support the thousands of new houses being built in the area.

But as the University of Warwick asks for residents' feedback on a major planning document that will spell out its plans for development by 2033, the scheme appears to have been dropped.

"It is quite a positive document and I am also pleased that in response to a question they [the university] said they are no longer considering the previously considered A46 Strategic Link Road as necessary," Cllr James Kennedy told the most recent Kenilworth Town Council meeting.  

"That seems to now be out of the question from the perspective of the university."

Warwickshire County Council has previously held a public consultation on the strategic link road.

While work on the much-delayed A46 Stoneleigh Junction continues, plans to progress with the link road itself have already been paused.

A notice on the council website says the previously lodged application to the Department for Transport's for Major Road Network (MRN) / Large Local Major (LLM) programme, has been deferred.

"Instead, the councils consider that a future funding submission will feature a business case for investment in a wider transport package of transport measures, including highway, public transport and active travel improvements," the notice added.

"Work is ongoing to develop a masterplan and the associated transport infrastructure and services through the preparation of the South Warwickshire Local Plan. 

"This is considering how improvements to all modes of transport and their integration will be needed to support sustainable growth across the region."

The University of Warwick has been approached for comment.