County council looking at Whaplode bypass

A first step has been made into a possible bypass around Whaplode.

Lincolnshire County Council has agreed to fund a feasibility study into its creation.
The calls for it are being led by county councillor Peter Coupland who says over 14,000 vehicles and 1,000 HGVs are going through the centre of Whaplode every day on the A151.
He says he’s calculated a route to the north of the village from outside of Weston, over Loosegate which would join the A17 south of Saracen’s Head.
Coun Coupland says the three-mile road would cost ‘around £40m’ and it would be down to a successful bid for Levelling Up funding.
“It’s really pleasing that Lincolnshire County Council is looking into this,” he said. “This is the next step in achieving quieter and safer village environments.
“The route I’ve identified includes no need to bulldoze any houses.”
Coun Coupland continued that he’d spoken to “50 per cent” of the landowners and that they’d reacted positively.
He said that the feasibility study had started around a month ago and the results were due to be published before the end of this month.
District councillor Allan Beal supports the project. He said: “We are the only village without a bypass.
“It’s an extremely narrow road for the centre of a village and you see these huge HGVs coming down.
“Things will only get worse with another 650 homes set to be built in Holbeach in the next few years.”
Coun Coupland has been asking Whaplode residents to lobby MP Sir John Hayes.
“Traffic in Whaplode has continued to be a problem for a number of years,” Sir John said. “It’s good that the county council is looking into the road and we’ll see what they say.
“There’s a good argument for relieving the pressure and congestion on Whaplode which affects people on both sides of the road.
“The feasibility study will set out what can be done and what the county council can bring forward.
“They would need to make it a priority to get the funding from government.”
When asked if a Whaplode bypass was likely to be a priority while the Spalding Western Relief Road remained under-funded, Sir John said: “I’ve always thought the project was a waste of money without it being completed.
“I support the principle of it but now we don’t know when it’s ever going to be finished.
“It’s more sustainable to develop schemes that are going to be delivered in full.
“This bypass would benefit the people of Whaplode so it is supportable.”