An application for a housing estate off Peterborough Road has been submitted to SHDC, comprising 50 new homes. The proposed site entrance/exit will be on the bend, opposite the Garage/Car Wash (where there is currently a layby). The application was deferred at the planning meeting of 22nd October, as Members asked that Highways re-visit the site as it was deemed dangerous. The application is due to be reconsidered at a planning meeting next Wednesday (26th November), and Highways have not changed their opinion; in fact, they have likened the junction to the one at Wyvale! I have written personally to the lead Planning Officer at Highways, and explained that there is no comparison, as the new site will be subjected to rush-hour traffic, and with 50+ vehicles trying to exit onto Peterborough Road will cause inevitable accidents. I suggested a roundabout be placed at this junction, which would ease the flow of traffic from this site, whilst giving priority to busses and delivery vehicles entering the town from James Road. This would also deter traffic from speeding through our town in order to exit via Thorney or Postland Road, to beat the queue waiting to exit from Peterborough Road. However, the lead officer will not consider this, and believes there is no problem with the proposed site entrance as submitted. Highways appear to be anti-roundabouts, as they chose to put staggered junctions across the new A16 where roundabouts would have been the much safer option. I have also written to our MP, The Rt Hon John Hayes, Minister of Transport, who has pledged his full support to our campaign, and has asked that I pass this petition to him once completed. He has also submitted a formal objection to the leader of SHDC.
