Inner Relief Road for Loughborough

Sept 2005

Following the consultation period it appears there is support for the concept of the road and the improvements this would bring to the town centre development.

However, there are clear losers in this process - those in part of the Hastings ward. I will continue to apply pressure to the County Council to come forward with a scheme that addresses as many of the local concerns as possible. I have asked that Highways look at the case for use of the existing road network (along Pinfold Gate and Aumburry Gap) as possible.

I met with County Highway Planners in September 2005 to put forward these technical points and await the findings of the consultants report on the possibility of a bus station and the proposals to County Council Cabinet for the road.

September 2005

March 2005

The consultation on this issue has now opened. This issue has been around for decades but now it is coming to a crucial point. What do you think?

(I am meeting residents opposed to this to make sure their views are taken into account. I will put my own reaction to this issue on this site when I have taken all representations.)

Updated early March 2005

I met the residents and have decided that the current proposals do not offer enough genuine alternatives - especially for those in Hastings. The impact of the road could be minimised by redirecting the route. I will put in my submission supporting none of the options put forward by County Hall.

25th March 2005

Epinal Way Extension

Completion is expected in Summer 2003. I am working with local councillors to ensure safe crossings and traffic calming to Park Road and Beacon Road.

Last Update March 2003

Loughborough Inner Relief Road

There remain proposlas to develop an inner relief road in Loughboroughy and detrunking of the A6 through the town centre.

I broadly welcome these proposals.

Extract from the County Council Structure Plan

5a.78 The Loughborough Inner Relief Road (IRR) will provide a peripheral route around the central core, replacing the A6 between its junctions at Bridge Street and at Southfields Road. The IRR is not intended to increase capacity, but it will enable the part of the A6 through the town centre to be closed off to traffic (except buses) and eliminate the severance and conflict which exists between the high volume of traffic and large numbers of pedestrian crossing movements.

5a.79 The IRR is therefore complementary to the Epinal Way Extension, but is not regarded as a substitute.

5a.80 The scheme shows a good rate of economic return and is capable of delivery within the plan period, given:

q the proposed detrunking of the A6 through Leicestershire;

q the scaling down of the scheme’s design to maximise use of existing highways and limit the need for additional land acquisition;

q the availability of significant private sector funding.

5a.81 The Charnwood Local Plan Inspectors made supportive comments on the need for an Inner Relief Road in their report. With regard to the benefits of diverting traffic from the A6(T) in the town centre, they said that they would be:

“ an expansion of the town centre with the viability of opportunity sites improved, an enhanced and safer environment for town centre visitors, and a broader canvas of opportunity to implement significant transport measures. In whatever guise the IRR was eventually constructed, it could have a lasting and beneficial influence on the way the town centre developed.

“ If, indeed, it were to be constructed simply for traffic management purposes, with environmental and commercial improvements, in my opinion it would be justified on those scores alone, and still be fully in accord with the principles of PPG13.”