£48m Lincoln Eastern Bypass

Offer is a Calculated Risk 

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Lincolnshire Echo

CONSERVATIVE councillors insist they are taking a calculated risk with their last-ditch £48 million Lincoln eastern bypass offer. 

And Lincolnshire County Council officials predict the 4.88-mile road – from Wragby Road, Lincoln, to the A15 near Bracebridge Heath – could bring £700 million back into the Lincolnshire economy if built.

The authority is hoping to tempt the Government to help fund the £97.8 million project by guaranteeing it can provide almost half of the cash.

The Tory executive agreed yesterday to increase its contribution from £13.8 million to £47.7 million.

As reported in the Echo, the additional £33.9 million will be provided by the council underwriting contributions expected from third-party sources, such as housing developers and district councils.

The authority will be able to claim this back, although council estimates suggest it could take 20 years.

Councillor William Webb, executive member for highways, told the meeting: "There are risks, of course, but they are carefully calculated and we are not known as an authority that shies away from taking difficult decisions when it has to.

"I can assure everyone this is not a reckless decision. It's a carefully thought-out one and I believe we have every chance of success, particularly because we have a history of delivering these schemes.

"This is a long-term project for Lincolnshire and hopefully we can achieve it in the next few years.

"It will have a profound effect on movement of traffic and the prosperity of this county for years to come."

A bid for £50 million to the Department for Transport (DfT) has to be submitted by September 9.

The road has already been downgraded from a dual carriageway to a single carriageway to maintain Government support.

It is expected a decision will be made before Christmas and, if successful, bypass building work could start in 2014 and be finished within two years.

Money from the council is expected to be sourced from its reserves rather than borrowing.

Council leader Martin Hill challenged officers to explain the risks associated with increasing the authority's initial contribution.

Paul Coathup, the council's assistant director of highways and transportation, said: "Everything that can be done to mitigate the risk has been done."

Opposition leader Councillor Marianne Overton said the bypass was a big investment, but could offer bigger returns.

The Independent member for Branston and Navenby said: "The key point for me is this road being a single carriageway.

"We are being forced by the Government to proceed schemes that are less effective in the long run."

Phil Shirley, operations manager of PC Coaches, based in Crofton Road, in the east of Lincoln, said a new bypass would be very handy.

He said: "It's going to save us a lot of time for any service going east around the city.

"But it's not just trying to get out of the city, it's about trying to alleviate traffic congestion in the city.

"I think this road is the best way of doing that."

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Last Updated on Tuesday, 16 August 2011 09:47