Focus switches to need for southern link with bypass set to open
With the new bypass due to open fully on Monday there is already a focus on pushing for a southern link.
Many residents are concerned that there is no section of the relief road – which will be known as Pork Pie Way – serving busy traffic flows coming from the Leicester direction.
The government’s Homes England body had previously agreed to pay £18.5million towards the original £27.5million cost of the south link, with County Hall forward funding most of the remainder before recouping the cash from developers building houses in the south of the town.
However, the price of the southern section has since risen sharply to around £70M and the cash-strapped county council is reluctant to commit further funds to it at present.
Highway stubs have been built on the new Burton Road roundabout which would enable a southern section to be constructed to connect with the A607 Leicester Road.
And the Conservative Mayor of Melton, Councillor Siggy Atherton, told the Melton Times at today’s launch event: “I’ve been in Melton 38 years and they were talking about a bypass then.
“Households used to have one car if they were lucky back then. Now they have two cars and a third car if they have children.
“Getting through Melton has been a nightmare but I’m sure this road will really help and hopefully a southern link won’t be long.”
Leicestershire county councillor, Andrew Innes, a Reform UK representative for the Melton East ward, echoed her sentiments: “We have got to get a southern link built because Kirby Lane will start to become a real problem with traffic using it.
“I know it’s to do with housing being built there first but we must push for it as soon as possible.”
Among the dignitaries at today’s launch, which was held at the Galliford Try HQ compound off the Nottingham Road, were current Melton MP Edward Argar and his predecessor, Alicia Kearns, who now represents Rutland and Stamford.
Mr Argar said; “This bypass has been many years in the making.
"Three members of Parliament - Alan Duncan, Alicia Kearns and now me – have been fighting for this.
“Different political regimes at County Hall have also worked together to keep this moving forward.
“It’s a great day for Melton Mowbray and thanks to everyone who has played a part.”
Mrs Kearns said the bypass project was one of the main focuses of her time serving the Melton constituency.
She told the Melton Times: “It was five years of battling and hard graft to get this bypass when I was Melton’s MP. We said we would deliver it and it has been now.”
On the naming of the road as Pork Pie Way following a public vote, county council director of environment and transport, Ann Carruthers, told the launch event: “I think it is fair to say that in the decades I have worked in this field I’ve never known such interest, excitement and furore around a road-naming.”
The road will open in stages from Sunday before opening fully to traffic on Monday.