Flyover Plan Rethink Submitted by: Alliance on Jun
19, 2006
A Step in the right direction...
Taken from the Leicester
Mercury 19 June 2006
FLYOVER PLAN RETHINK BY KATHRYN EDWARDS
Controversial plans to widen a section of motorway have gone
back to the drawing board following a flood of complaints.
The Highways Agency had wanted to spend £1.9 billion
widening the M1 in Leicestershire and creating a new flyover
link road with the M69.
However, they say part of those plans will be redrawn because
of the strength of local feeling against them.
The plans for the rest of the motorway will go ahead but
the section between junctions 21 and 21a will be redesigned
and another consultation launched.
People in Leicester Forest East said they feared thousands
of cars using the proposed link road each day would create
unacceptable noise and air pollution and devalue their homes.
Highways Agency staff were swamped with complaints during
a heated public meeting in the parish hall last month when
hundreds of people turned up to show their dismay at the plans.
Now, highways bosses say they will consider all the views
they have heard so far when drawing up the new plans - including
whether to include the flyover.
They expect to come up with the new designs this autumn.
People will then be given another 13 weeks to comment on
the revised proposals.
In a leaked memo, Highways Agency bosses say: "Following
the additional consultation meeting carried out at Leicester
Forest East on May 22, the Highways Agency has received a
considerable amount of correspondence on the matter of the
M1 /M69 links.
"The Highways Agency will consider all of the comments
received and amend its proposals where appropriate. A preferred
route decision will not be taken on the junction 21 to junction
21a section until this work has been completed and the amended
proposals subjected to a further consultation.
"We expect to be in a position to reconsult on options
in the autumn of 2006."
County council leaders had been campaigning against the plans.
Today, county council leader David Parsons, who also represents
Leicester Forest East, said: "We have been working very
hard with the residents of Leicester Forest East to get the
Highways Agency to reconsider.
"There is absolutely no way we would have put up with
a flyover going over people's homes like they were suggesting,
and it is something we were prepared to have a real fight
over.
"It's a real breakthrough for the Highways Agency to
have come up with this news now. It's excellent news that
they have listened to us, and I hope they continue listening
to us as they draw up the new plans."
People have until July 12 to give their views on the plans
for the section between junctions 21a to 30.
Final plans for those stretches of the motorway are expected
to be revealed in spring 2007.
