LETTERS – Angry at bypass decision

I am extremely disappointed and downright angry at the feasibility report from Lincs County Council Highways on their decision not to move ahead with the Whaplode/Moulton bypass.
The balance of the ‘benefits to cost ratio’ criteria they have used to arrive at their negative decision is all about value for money ie about the users’ (drivers’) benefits of a bypass.
The present environmental impacts to people living on or near High Road of noise, vibration, danger, speeding, congestion, inconvenience and pollution does not appear to have any value in the matter, and I find that neglectful and totally incorrect.
The improvements to people’s living conditions on a very busy A-road with near five million vehicles a year running through their villages should be the main driver to building a bypass.
I have identified several inaccuracies, oversights and incorrect data used in the report and will be taking this up and challenging LCC officers in the new year, my support of the local people will not waiver on this most important matter.
I believe the residents living along and close to High Road deserve better and I will work with them no matter what.
It’s time, I believe, for people to come to the fore, I will be organising a public meeting in the next few months to formally put this matter to the residents and ask them what they want to do next.
Hopefully our MP Sir John Hayes will attend, along with LCC officers and the Highways Exec member Richard Davies.
As Henry Ford once said in his early days of car manufacturing: “If everyone is moving together, the success takes care of itself.”
Here’s to people power.

Peter Coupland
Lincs County Councillor covering Whaplode