Happy New Year everyone!

The petition was submitted to council a few weeks ago and they responded with this:

"The proposal to dual Vauxhall Way was consulted on in late 2019 when the detailed design for the Stopsley Way, Hitchin Road and Vauxhall Way proposals were shown, this included a draft design to show the whole scheme and the modelling for how the junctions when changed would operate together.

No mention was made of the remainder of the dualling after the junction works recently undertaken and as far we are aware no plans are in place to deliver this widening with all major capital works on hold.

A full survey of the trees was reviewed and a study of the environmental impact but not based on any finalised design.

There are no current plans to progress the dualling of Vauxhall Way, if this was to be looked at again in the future it would be based on need and demand and a full consultation would be undertaken prior to any scheme being taken forward.

In light of the above information I will not progress your petition any further at this time."

So it's disappointing that they won't table it for discussion at full council as hoped, but positive in that it indicates no development is going to happen immediately. Hopefully they now know that any future consultations will be attracting negative responses from the 2600+ people in the petition.

In the preparation for the draft proposal for Vauxhall Way, the Wildlife Trust did a simple ecological survey of the area. Importantly the conclusion of this survey was that Vauxhall Way was an important wildlife corridor, suitable for consideration as a District Wildlife Site and any development should aim to maintain or enhance this. Enquiries are under way to determine if any such classification was subsequently made and if not, we will press for it, it would only strengthen our case.

Until the next update, enjoy the arrival of Spring and seeing Vauxhall Way blossoming back into life once again!