Congestion cutting plans for town are put on hold
LONG promised improvements to traffic pinchpoints across Hinckley have stalled.
Work to ease congestion on Rugby Road and Normandy Way may not progress as planned.
The much-debated schemes were dependent on cash from the Government and no funds are forthcoming from this year’s Budget.
Leicestershire will benefit from almost £26 million but this will be spent on boosting the Leicester Space Centre, creating a national space park and carrying out junction and road improvements to the M1/J23 and A512 to support new enterprise zones in Loughborough.
The ambitious proposals for Hinckley and Bosworth now remain on hold until the next funding round of the local growth fund, or if cash is found increase transport connectivity and so boost the economy.
Over the last two years three zones have already been completed covering north west, north east and south Hinckley plus Burbage, Earl Shilton and Barwell.
Changes included dual pedestrian/cycleways, traffic calming and speed restrictions.
The fourth zone would have featured a number of capital projects which may now not proceed as expected.
At the much maligned Rugby Road/Hawley Road junction by Hinckley Hub officials planned to shave land off the Lidl supermarket car park to allow for a new left hand sliproad. The junction would remain controlled by traffic lights.
While at Rugby Road/Brookside plans were to widen the south side of the junction to provide a two lane exit for southbound traffic on Rugby Road with space to merge. A controlled pedestrian and cycle crossing was also proposed.
A new lane from Jacknell Road onto the A5 Dodwells Roundabout was expected to help ease congestion on Dodwells Road and turnings into the industrial estate were to be limited to left-hand only.
An extension to the 20 mph zones in the centre of town and a new crossing on Lancaster Road were also mooted.
All the schemes were approved last September and brought into a package of bids in November which also featured improvements at Desford crossroads and better rail services between Leicester and Coventry.
Phil Crossland, highways chief at Leicestershire County Council, said some £800,000 was allocated for Hinckley for projects and it was hoped the Rugby Road/Hawley Road and Lancaster Road alterations would be taken forward.