September 19, 2019 4.32 pm This story is over 54 months old

Residents ‘will be first to know’ about new Spalding Relief Road route

The council’s highways chief made the assurance
Councillor Richard Davies, executive member for highways at the county council, addresses residents affected by the Spalding Relief Road at a meeting at Bromley Hall in Pode Hole, near Spalding, in February 2019. Picture: Daniel Jaines.

Residents in will be the “first to know” about the new direction of the Spalding Western Relief Road, according to Lincolnshire’s highways chief.

Councillor Richard Davies, cabinet member for highways at Lincolnshire County Council, said the authority will reveal options for the new route to local people in the next couple of weeks.

The north and south sections of the £100 million road were approved by the county council in July, but were called in by the Secretary of State after calls from local residents.

The project will provide a new route around the west side of the town, linking Spalding Common in the south to Spalding Road/Pinchbeck Road in the north.

But, the county council decided to look at the central section again after revelations it could go through residents’ homes caused public outcry.

A map showing the original two central routes of the proposed £100 million Spalding Relief Road. Picture: Lincolnshire County Council.

The authority was forced to apologise in February after homeowners on Bourne Road, along with South Drove, Horseshoe Road and Pinchbeck Road, said no contact had had been made with them by the council on the highway scheme.

Councillor Davies said the council was now carrying out a “feasibility study” on the road, but no decision had yet been made on the options.

“The reality is that sometimes when building roads you have to make difficult decisions and in order for the greater good you have to make painful decisions,” he said.

“As yet, no decision has been made on the route. But once that decision has been made we will ensure that the residents are the first people to find out.”

Catherine and Frank Roberts outside their forever home on Bourne Road. Photo: Daniel Jaines

Catherine Roberts, one of the homeowners on Bourne Road effected by the original route, said residents had been through the “summer from hell” due to the plans.

She added that local people had been on “tenterhooks” waiting for news on the relief road.

“As September drew closer I actually became more nervous about the possible outcome we might hear, although desperately wanting to know our fate, and from there, if the news is not good, we look to further ways to fight,” she said.

A 1,300 signature petition was last week handed to Lincolnshire County Council which Mrs Roberts said “truly reflects the wealth of support from the town”.

Campaigners have also taken their case to the Local Government Ombudsman and received support from local MP, John Hayes.

In May, South Holland District Council offered no objections to the plans despite opposition claims the two sections would create cul-de-sacs which would “cripple” traffic for the next 10 years.

Lincolnshire County Council hopes to begin work on the road in Spring 2020.

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