Newark Town Council to finalise position on A46 dualling plans following objection criticism — as Newark Advertiser poll reveals 9 in 10 support the project

A council is set to reconsider its stance on a multi-million pound road improvement project after a recent decision to object was widely criticised.

Newark Town Council’s full council will meet tonight to outline their position on the dualling of the A46 Newark Bypass, which will then be submitted to government for examination

The plans involve the widening and restructuring of what is currently the only un-dualled stretch of the major road, between Farndon and Winthorpe. It would also see the construction of a flyover at Cattlemarket Roundabout.

Earlier in July the council’s planning committee chose to object to the plans — a decision which was criticised as not representing the views of the people of Newark by Conservative town councillor Mathew Skinner and was subsequently withdrawn so that a final decision could be made by all councillors.

As the debate around the project grew louder the Advertiser ran a simple poll to gauge public opinion, asking “do you support plans to dual the A46 Newark Bypass?”

Results from this poll found that 89% of respondents were in favour of the project, and just one in ten people did not support the plans.

It is argued that the widening of the notoriously congested road would help to ease traffic problems in the area, remove a bottleneck along a crucial trade corridor, relieve pressure on Newark’s roads and in the long term would bring economic benefits to the town.

However, those against the plans say that traffic problems would only get worse during the construction phase before any potential benefits are felt. It is also believed that increased traffic through the town in this period, including greater numbers of HGVs, would cause damage to the roads.

When it was announced, the project was originally slated to cost £500m. However, figures in the Development Consent Order submitted to government in April show that completion of the scheme is now estimated to come in at £686.4m.

Critics also believe that this money would be better spent on improving public transport, by increasing the number of bus services as well as train reliability, which could in turn reduce reliance on cars and take more traffic off the roads.

Newark Town Council will finalise their position at tonight’s meeting, before submitting in a statement, including any potential concerns, to the Secretary of State for Transport — who will have the final say on project approval.

Newark and Sherwood District Council reaffirmed their support for the project at a cabinet meeting this week.