Newark Town Council object to £500m A46 Newark Bypass plans as government Planning Inspectorate makes full examination before recommendation to Secretary of State for Tansport
In a move which has drawn heavy criticism, Newark Town Council have objected to a major road improvement scheme.
The council called an extraordinary meeting of its planning committee to consider its position on the £500m plans for the A46 Newark Bypass.
The plans involve the widening and restructuring of a heavily-congested section between Farndon and Winthorpe, with the aim of easing traffic on what is currently the only un-dualled stretch of the major road. It would also see the construction of a flyover at Cattlemarket Roundabout.
The town council was asked to comment after the project was accepted for a full examination by the government’s Planning Inspectorate, which will then make a recommendation on approval to the Secretary of State for Transport later this year.
Those behind the plans argue that the widening of the road could support economic growth in the region and relieve pressure on Newark itself, which is currently used as a cut through by drivers at peak times.
However, the council raised concerns over construction issues, flood risk, noise, pollution, and a desire to see the money spent on improving public transport instead.
Conservative committee member Mathew Skinner was vocal in his robust support for the project and said the decision to object was “unbelievable”.
He said: “I see that road backed up day in, day out and I believe having a free flowing [dual-carriageway] will possibly enhance the environment because the traffic won’t be stop, start, and people sat idle.
“There are benefits in terms of jobs, making people’s lives easier, it affects our market in terms of making it easier for people to get in and do their shopping.
“My concern is if we don’t go ahead with this it will significantly affect Newark economically.
“I hope I’m wrong, but we’ve got a new government, the cost envelope has increased, and I believe this will sadly be pulled.”
Keen cyclist Laurence Goff was strongly opposed to the plans.
“I’m not very happy about it,” he said. “It will mean more pollution, heavy duty vehicles and more traffic through the town centre on our small roads.
“We should be working to get better transportation in the town centre, to encourage more people out of their cars and onto public transport.”
He added that he was taking a stand about health and safety issues.
Esther Cropper also opposed the plans, citing research that suggested widening roads only had a short-term benefit.
Committee chairman Lisa Geary reiterated claims made in 2022 that the dualling of the road would be of little benefit to the people of Newark and would only shave a few minutes off of journey times.
She said: “Traffic will be permanently worse in the town because of this bypass and I have concerns about the amount of resources it will take and the number of years it will take to widen the road.
“Most of the day and night there isn’t a problem on that road, it’s only at rush hour.”
Neil Ross accepted that there would be a negative impact while construction takes place, but insisted the long term benefit outweighed the issues.
He said: “I live in Newark and I take the point that in the short term there will be real costs if this work goes ahead.
“It will make getting around much more difficult, there will be construction traffic, noise and increased pollution, and it will be a number of years of what amounts to much more than inconvenience.
“But we have to see beyond that, this is a project that will bring benefits over the decades and years to come, economically, socially, and dealing with a serious road problem in Newark.
“We have a dual carriageway that runs the length of the country and then has a short bottleneck that happens to be around the town.
“That creates huge problems, brings more traffic into town, clogs up the streets and makes it an awful place to live when that happens.
“In the long term [not doing it] will hold back economic development, so we have to think beyond the next few years.”
Conflict between committee members meant the decision to object was not unanimous, with Mr Skinner calling for a named vote.
Councillors for the proposals were Tom Collier, Neil Ross, and Mathew Skinner. Against the proposals were Esther Cropper, Sophie Dickinson, Lisa Geary, Laurence Goff, and Lynn Roulstone.
The decision also drew criticism from the newly re-elected Newark MP Robert Jenrick, who said: “Newark Labour and their ‘Independent’ facilitators are creating a council of chaos, taking genuinely baffling and harmful decisions.
“They are placing their anti-motorist ideology above common sense and practicality.”
The MP echoed Mr Skinner’s fears that the project could be scrapped by the new Labour government, adding: “It would be ten years of hard work wasted and £500m of investment turned down.”
UPDATE: A finalised statement from Newark Town Council was due to be sent to the Secretary of State for Transport — who will have the final say on project approval — ahead of the July 14 deadline.
However, the decision to object has been withdrawn after it was called in for review and will now be discussed at a full council meeting on July 24.
Individual councilors have decided to continue to submit their own objections separate to the council as a whole.
A copy of these individual objections will also be sent to East Midlands Mayor Claire Ward, Newark MP Robert Jenrick, the leader of Newark and Sherwood District Council, and the leader of Nottinghamshire County Council.
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