Controversial bridge plan may be scrapped
CONTROVERSIAL plans to open up a bridge in a quiet area of Nuneaton to traffic could be sensationally scrapped.
For the past two years Warwickshire County Council (WCC) has been forging ahead with plans to allow vehicles to use the pedestrianonly bridge in Bermuda village to help ease traffic woes in the area.
But now we can reveal the whole scheme could collapse, pending the outcome of a public consultation set to take place next month.
There has been no official word from Shire Hall about the plan for some time but, hidden in a communities overview and scrutiny committee panel meeting agenda, there is crucial information about the future of the project.
The agenda item says that following the public consultation, members of the local authority will decide whether to agree to take it to the implementation stage.
It reads: “The detailed design of the Bermuda Connection Scheme is completed and currently undergoing a Technical Approval process.
“Further consultation in regard to the scheme will be undertaken prior to WCC Members taking a decision on the future of thes Scheme.
“It is anticipated that the further consultation will commence in May 2018 with the key outcomes being included in the reports to WCC cabinet and full council in summer 2018. WCC members will take a decision on whether or not the scheme is progressed onto implementation stage.”
A Shire Hall spokesperson explained: “We are going out to consultation and the findings will form part of the report that is presented to cabinet and county council for their decision.”
The news that the project could be abandoned will bring joy to those who feared that the opening of the bridge would bring misery to their lives. During the last round of public consultation, 57 per cent of people objected to the plan but, despite this, the local authority decided to continue with it.
It is understood that the project is well over its planned budget and many, including Warwickshire County Council ward councillor Clare Golby, believe the money would be better spent on a straight road out to the A444 to solve the notorious traffic issues.