A £5-million road scheme which could be the key to hundreds of new jobs is back on the cards more than three years after being shelved.

Residents of East Worthing area are welcoming news an access road from the A27 could be built by 2006.

People living in roads including Dominion Road and Ham Road have been pressing for years for relief from heavy lorries heading for the town's industrial estates.

The East Worthing Access Road (EWAR) was put on the back burner by West Sussex County Council in 1999, mainly on financial grounds.

Now the council has revealed a bid for government money to build the road could be included in its 2005 transport plan, with construction in 2006-07.

Contributions could also be made by developers because the proposed road from the A27 trunk road through to the Brighton Road would open up land capable of providing 29,000sqft of new business floor space.

Colin Gregg, chairman of East Worthing Action Group, welcomed the council's change of heart.

He said: "We were very disappointed when EWAR was dropped.

"An access road would take a lot of very heavy traffic off roads in residential areas of East Worthing which were not built for that sort of traffic."

The group was formed ten years ago after concern about plans for a garage showroom. It stayed together to look at other issues relevant to the area.

Councillor Irene Richards, who represents East Worthing on the county council, said: "I am sure this will be welcomed. The lorries are making life a pain and intolerable for people."

The decision to include EWAR in the council's plans was taken by Cabinet member for the environment Councillor Tex Pemberton, who is responsible for highways issues.

He said the environmental and economic benefits justified the cost and would help overcome fears about building a road on the boundary of a strategic gap.

Coun Pemberton endorsed a report from his experts which said: "The access road would provide opportunities for attracting inward investment and helping local companies expand.

"The improved access would help companies on the eastern side of Worthing and also help safeguard employment sites under pressure for alternative uses.

"There is a view that, in Worthing, redevelopment of existing run-down industrial areas for new business is not economically viable.

"The provision of an access road may lead to better investment opportunities on existing industrial areas."

Brian Tompsett, chairman of South Broadwater Residents' Association, also welcomed the County Hall announcement.

He said: "In fact it was our association which first suggested a link road many years ago as a way of getting rid of the heavy traffic which comes through our area to reach the East Worthing industrial estates."