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Towcester relief road reaches key milestone

The road, which will eventually link the A5 with the A43 and therefore negating the need for traffic to pass through the centre of the town, has today seen the official opening of the A5 roundabout.

The project has experienced a number of delays during its construction but thanks to renewed efforts by local MP Andrea Leadsom, Persimmon Homes, West Northants Council and National Highways, a key milestone has been reached.

It will come as a huge relief to many residents that the A5 Roundabout is finally open. Whilst there is still more landscaping work to do, this is a positive development and I am assured that there will be no further closures to the A5. I will continue to push all the stakeholders involved in building the Towcester Relief Road to get this project done as soon as possible.Andrea Leadsom, MP

We appreciate the concerns of local residents regarding the delays that been experienced with the construction of this road. However, today marks a significant milestone and my team and I are committed to delivering the relief road as soon as possible. The technical approval process for the A43 roundabout is nearing completion and we hope to be starting on site in spring next year with completion in 2025.Zac Hurst, Managing Director at Persimmon Homes Midlands

I’m delighted to be here to celebrate the opening of the new roundabout, which is a significant step forward in the delivery of the relief road.  We will continue to work closely with Persimmon Homes and other stakeholders to ensure the A43 roundabout is also delivered as quickly as possible.

The A5 in Towcester has had longstanding issues with high levels of traffic passing through the historic town centre.  By alleviating traffic from the heart of the community the relief road, together with our proposals for traffic calming through Towcester, which are currently in development will support economic growth and wellbeing by making the high street a more attractive place to visit and preserve the history and identity of the town.Andrew Jinks, National Highways

Thank you to all residents and road users for the continued patience during this project. I am really pleased to join our partners to celebrate this milestone as the essential works to relieve traffic congestion on the A5 are complete. As works begin on the next stage, I look forward to the road being opened through to the A43 in due course, and the positive impact this will have to Towcester Town Centre.Cllr Phil Larratt, Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport, Highways and Waste at West Northamptonshire Council

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Comments

peter k

At 11:49 on 30th November 2023, peter k commented:

So much back slapping for a project that is well late. Ian McCord sums the mess up well. A question remains over whether the complicated junction planned for the A43 has actually been approved?

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Ian McCord

At 12:59 on 30th November 2023, Ian McCord commented:

@Peter K - the key comment is from Zak Hurst Persmimon local MD - "The technical approval process for the A43 roundabout is nearing completion and we hope to be starting on site in spring next year with completion in 2025."

I met with him late May with Martin Johns, we were told the same technical approval is close and hope to finish for Autumn 24. Now it is pushed out into 2025

To answer your question has it been approved - the short answer is that it appears not.

It is also important not to confuse technical approval with planning permission, i have seen a lot on social media with this confusion. There is planning permission that gives approval - yes you can build a road. The technical part is agreeing with Highways the radius of the turns, the depth of the base, they drainage routes, what signs, where, etc etc

Ian McCord

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Martin Johns

At 17:26 on 6th December 2023, Martin Johns commented:

Photo opportunities like this, and the accompanying self-congratulation, only goes to highlight what pitifully slow progress has been made with delivering this link road.

Towcester residents were promised that the road would be fully open once 1016 new houses were occupied. With more than 900 houses built, residents are now told the road will not open until the summer of 2025. Towcester and surrounding villages continue to be let down.

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