Bypass blues
A decision taken a few miles up the A6 from Broughton this week is going to have knock-on effects for the already congested road.
The Royal Lancashire Show will be staged on a 300-acre site off the A6 for the next three years.
It will see thousands of people flock to the former Headnook Quarry at Barton, near Preston, for the popular three-day event.
Gordon Roberts, chairman of the Royal Lancashire Agricultural Society, says his team will work to ensure the event, which attracts around 60,000 people, does not cause traffic chaos in the area.
The decision by Wyre Council's planning committee to have the show at the former quarry has raised many transport questions.
It makes the need for the Broughton bypass, as well as an extra M6 junction, even more apparent, says Coun Ken Hudson, leader of Preston Council.
Not everyone is so convinced by the need for the bypass and one opponent has set up an online petition to show Prime Minister Gordon Brown the level of discontent. There are still another six months to sign up.
Caron Bell, who set up the petition, says: "The problem of congestion in Broughton could be easily solved by adding a new motorway junction after junction 32, which would help expanding towns like Garstang too by giving it a convenient exit.
"The current bypass plans will eventually exacerbate the problem by attracting more housing developments and traffic to the village and will spoil a lot of precious countryside."
There is a high level of opposition to the bypass within the community, not least from pensioners Denis and Elizabeth Ibison whose home in Whittingham Lane, Broughton, would be bulldozed to make way for the 11m road.
Their home of 48 years would be the subject of a compulsory purchase order, a process which Lancashire County Council is beginning this year with a view to starting building work in the summer of 2009.
Others say the bypass, which could be completed by late 2011, is the only way to solve the traffic headaches which continually blight the Broughton roundabout and crossroads.
They say the road – which would run from the Broughton roundabout to a new roundabout junction with the A6 about 150 metres north of the village – is needed to relieve the perpetual queues.
But who will pay for the two-and-a-half mile road is another matter still to be sorted out.
Planners on Monday turned down an application from developers Taylor Wimpey for 650 houses at the former Whittingham Hospital site, near Preston, which would have included a 10.2m contribution to the bypass.
The refusal means the developers must revert to the original permission for 584 homes with a payment of just 1.8m towards the bypass.
However, it is believed Taylor Wimpey may still pay the remaining 8.4m because, without the road, it can only build 150 homes. No-one from Taylor Wimpey was available to confirm this.
Coun Hudson added: "There is no fear whatsoever of the bypass not being built.
"The developer can only build 150 houses without the Broughton bypass.
"Therefore, if he wants to build the other houses he's going to pay the extra 8m to proceed with the bypass."
David Linley, principal planning officer at Preston Council, said: "Legally, it's perfectly possible but financially, it's up to them."
A spokesman for Lancashire County Council said: "In order to enable the development to take place, a large enough contribution needs to be made to allow the road to be built.
"We estimate that a contribution in the region of 10m will be needed from the developer.
"The developers understand this and the need to provide enough finance to enable the county council to build the road.
"Although the latest application has been rejected by Preston Council, it is possible that the applicants will appeal against this decision."
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Weather for Preston
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 14 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
