The Bridge is still closed! MORE SUPPORT STILL NEEDED
Under Stanton Cross development a new bridge (Route2) was consented to.
Funding for this via Bovis Homes.
Consent was given to Network Rail for the “demolition and reconstruction” of the Leyland Bridge (B571).
This bridge is shown “open” on the Stanton Cross Masterplan (revised).
The bridge has been removed despite temporary signage, Network Rail and Highways Agency websites indicated open and completed for 11th April.
Even after 11th April Network Rail’s website still states re-opening on 11th April!
We have all been misled, from Leyland Estate businesses to Local Authority.
Both bridge works were separate contracts, each being individually funded.
Network Rail and Bovis Homes have conspired to jointly fund the “Route 2” bridge and not reinstate the original route.
We believe the funding of the new bridge with money from Network Rail to Bovis Homes could be illegal as going from a Public Body to a PLC.
A proposal to provide a temporary Bailey bridge has been squashed.
This being based on unproven statements that a temporary bridge would be equal to the costs of the new “Route 2” bridge.
Despite a FOI request for costing substantiation none have been forthcoming.
Date of March given for a “Public Meeting” has not been adhered to with no meeting being scheduled and no further updates from “senior stakeholders”
Permanent “Stopping up” orders are now being/have been made over the original route.
This is severely detrimental to:
1) Businesses on the Leyland Estate.
2) The Stanton Cross Development
3) Town Centre Businesses
4) Through traffic
5) Employees on the estate
Jobs have been lost, redundancies have been made. Businesses are closing.
Taxi firms have increased costs from £4 to £9.50 each way from the town centre to the estate. This has detrimental effect to Employees.
Over 1000 people are employed on the Leyland Estate.
If only a token 5% visit the town centre daily with an average spend of £40.00 this is over £500,000 per annum which shops in the town centre are losing.
Route 2 or Route 4 will not see this valuable town centre income recovered.
Further costs will be incurred by way of Business Rate reductions/refunds to both the Leland Estate and Town Centre businesses, Unemployment benefits etc., etc, which is estimated a further £500,000
An alternative route onto Mill Road “Route 4” is due to open shortly, however this will not alleviate the problems and the new road system is not designed to accommodate it.
No revised “traffic impact assessments” have taken place.
These are now currently being undertaken at Leyland Estate managing Agents Mssrs Whittle Jones to assist matters.
No revised assessment has taken place to include impact of the 82,000sq ft industrial units under construction on the Finedon Road.
The new “Route 2” temporary route is being suggested to open mid 2020.
The bridge however, is only set to be designed during this autumn.
In real terms it is not expected to be complete for at least 2-3 years.
Funding for this bridge by Bovis is also subject to the number of new homes sold.
There is a risk the “Route 2” bridge may never be built.
It is expected their targets will not be reached as it becomes more widely known that the Stanton Cross Development is in part on former sewage fields being contaminated land also referred to in the original planning briefs.
“There is evidence of a sewage works on the site from about the 1900’s through to at least 1938, though it was not shown on maps in 1958. It is believed that many fields in the surrounding area had slurry from the works spread on them. This may have included the abattoir site and the Land to the north of Irthlingborough Road.
Over the years there have been various enforcement and pollution issues in and around the site.”
Stanton Cross housing being in the shadows of a major landfill site, close to an animal blood processing business, built over former sewage fields and having dangerous traffic may not be a desired place to live or invest.
Locally Pine Trees Village eventually required re-branding due to the stigmas and falling house prices.
Further problems have been caused to the Stanton Cross housing due to foundation piling being used resulting in walls of new homes being cracked causing structural damage.
QUOTE “Bellway is causing ground
movement around our new home. Cracks
starting to form!!! Yet they keep going,
anyone in close proximity please check for cracks
- their piling solution is definitely a problem.
I am trying to find out why they are still piling”
QUOTE "Lovely wake up call at 8am today with the Bellway pile driver. The whole house is shaking!! Is there anyone we can contact about this as it's been going on for far too long now?"
Network Rail along with Bovis Homes and KierWSP (Highways Agency) informed us a public meeting would be held before the end of March 2019, THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED AND NO FURTHER RESPONSE HAS BEEN RECEIVED.
Unless the consents to “stop up” this route are rescinded/revoked we fear the business community on the Leyland Estate will not survive, to the further detriment of the Town Centre.
A petition is currently running to support with over 3500 supporters.
Support has also been given by local MPs Mr Peter Bone and Mr Tom Pursglove who have raised matters with the Dept of Transport.
We now ask for decisive action from Wellingborough Council to get this route reopened – temporary or otherwise.
Common sense must surely prevail!