Campaigner dismayed as bypass plan is dropped

A campaigner has accused the government of a lack of "understanding" after plans for a long-awaited bypass were dropped from a national funding programme.

The A509 Isham bypass was first proposed in 2003 by the now-defunct Northamptonshire County Council, but it was delayed by funding problems.

On Friday, it was removed from the Major Road Network and Large Local Majors Programme, after a review by the Department for Transport (DfT), which said it could only go ahead with schemes that were "good value for money".

Graham Rait, a long-term campaigner for the bypass, said: "I think they're taking value for money in terms of perhaps industry."

"They [the government] have no understanding of the frustration of the people. And they do have a right to care for people," he added.

Rait, who has lived in the village, south of Kettering, for 43 years, said a 2019 survey had found that an average of 26,000 vehicles passed through the village each day - of which more than 3,500 were HGVs.

He said the volume of traffic meant life in the village existed in "two halves" on either side of the A509.

"You take your life in your hands to cross from one side to the other. It would be lovely if it was a nice village again," he said.

"It's extremely noisy, you can't cross the road. It's difficult to join the road from one of the side turns and it's just getting more and more difficult".

North Northamptonshire Council leader Martin Griffiths said he shared "the bitter disappointment" of residents who had waited "many years" for the road.

"We will continue to make the case for investment in North Northamptonshire and work constructively with government and partners to understand the options available," said Griffiths, of Reform UK.

The proposed route started at the new Symmetry Park roundabout, south of junction nine on the A14.

It would have run west of Isham before rejoining the A509 Kettering Road between Hill Top and Great Harrowden.

North Northamptonshire Council previously said the estimated cost of the construction would be £116m.

The unitary council said the DfT had told it in a letter that it had inherited a programme of unaffordable and unfunded schemes.

The DfT said it had prioritised projects it considered to offer the highest value for money, but said the bypass could be reconsidered if suitable funding arose and a compelling business case was made.

Chris McGiffen, councillor for highways, said: "This announcement is extremely disappointing, not just for North Northamptonshire Council, but for the many local residents, businesses and road users."

The DfT spokesperson added: "Given the challenging financial picture we inherited, we have had to make difficult decisions on a number of road projects and can only progress schemes that are good value for money for taxpayers."

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