New near-£50 million bridge in Pinchbeck branded ‘white elephant’ with race on to fund rest of Spalding Western Relief Road
Highways bosses say they are still seeking ‘funding opportunities’ to finish a full bypass for Spalding — with a new near-£50 million labelled a ‘white elephant’ as it may not be fully used for a decade.
The Spalding Western Relief Road will be mothballed once work finishes next month on the northern section — and there are no plans to start the southern route until 2030 at the earliest, unless more money comes forward.
The middle section would have to follow that, meaning vehicles are unlikely to be travelling over the new bridge near Pinchbeck to head up to Spalding Common for at least a decade. No funding has been secured for the middle section of the road - which had previously been estimated to cost £109.5 million in full.
Lincolnshire County Council says it is working with South Holland District Council to find ‘external funding opportunities’ but with no sign of cash coming forward many in the area have questioned the point of starting the project. So far, the work has included a bridge over the railway line and a five arm roundabout, which may be used to access future housing developments.
Cash earmarked for the southern end was pulled last year due to rising costs of other projects.
The county’s assistant director for highways, Karen Cassar, said: “As announced last year, construction of the south section of the relief road isn’t expected to start until 2030 at the earliest unless external funding can be found. We are continuing to work closely with South Holland District Council to identify funding opportunities, including remaining in touch with Homes England.
“In addition, no funding has yet been allocated or secured for the middle sections of the relief road as these are intended to be built in the long-term, as outlined in the South East Lincolnshire Local Plan.”
Construction on the northern section began in January 2022 and will include the construction of a new metal pedestrian bridge to link Blue Gowt Lane and Wygate Park.
Work on the replacement for Two Plank Bridge is due to have begun but it has not been revealed when the memorial to hero pilot George Furniss will be returned to the river bank.
Ms Cassar said: “The Spalding Western Relief Road north section’s bridge, carriageway and footpaths are all set to be complete in late September. Following that, the contractor will focus on removing the level crossing and haul road we’ve been using for site access.
“Once the main infrastructure works are finished, the bridge and new section of carriageway will be fenced off until they are formally adopted by us as the highway authority.
“This will happen when the other sections of the relief road are built or when planning permission is granted and housing is built on the west side of the rail line.”
But the authority is not expecting any deterioration of the road as it will have minimal use — but have confirmed safety checks will take place before it is open to traffic.
Once the fences have been installed the only vehicles to use the new road will be those of landowners and farmers along with county council staff.
Councillors were warned that barriers could be down 40 minutes per hour
The Government needs to stump up the cash to finish off Spalding Western Relief Road, says a former planning committee chairman.
Roger Gambba-Jones, a senior member of South Holland District Council until last year, said the authority began looking at plans for the Spalding Western Relief Road in the late 90s as a way of solving traffic woes caused by railway crossings.
Railtrack, predecessor to Network Rail, warned that Spalding’s level crossings could be closed for 40 minutes per hour due to the increased number of freight trains, said Mr Gambba-Jones.
Traffic queues are already regularly seen due to the crossings, which cut the town in half.
Mr Gambba-Jones said: “Despite all the bad press and talk about us only building the road to give developers money and allow them to build houses, it has never been that - it has always been a compromise to put houses there to build the road to reduce the impact of rail freight traffic, which is only going to increase as the rail companies have spent so much money further down the line at Peterborough.
“The problem is that we have demonstrated a commitment, we have done as much as we can locally and if the impact from the increase in rail freight, as it would appear this government is pushing for growth, we are going to suffer the pain of that.”
He has called for a campaign to push the government to fund the remaining sections of the relief road to benefit the town.
Lincolnshire County Council is not expected to start building the southern section until 2030 at the earliest and the middle does not have any funding.
Mr Gambba-Jones added: “We can’t find tens of millions as a relatively small area with a small population. We can’t achieve what the highways agency can achieve or the government can achieve.”
Residents have unanswered questions
Residents feel there are a lot of questions still to be answered around the relief road bridge and roundabout — with one labelling the new structure a ‘white elephant’.
There’s frustration that the soon-to-be finished bridge in Pinchbeck, which forms part of the northern section of the Spalding Western Relief Road, may not be a part of a fully joined up bypass for a decade — despite construction work due to be finished on this part of the project next month.
There’s no funding for the middle or southern sections of the road — and the bridge will be fenced off and unused as it does not lead anywhere.
Spalding Road resident George Scott said: “It’s just a bit of a white elephant. The question is - what’s the point of it?
“They knew before they dug a spade that they couldn’t get the middle bit done.
“I don’t know where the planning people got their qualifications. In fact, I don’t see any evidence that they have got any.”
He also quipped: “I am looking on the bright side — in the winter it will make a good ski slope.”
Mr Scott questioned whether it’s now time to revisit the design of the whole road if it cannot be afforded — and wondered if the full western bypass will ever be built.
Like many residents, he’s noticed the signs going up in recent weeks to declare the land near the bridge as having been acquired for housing.
In 2023, full permission was given for 100 new homes around this site — with outline permission for a further 300.
That site will eventually link to the roundabout element of the northern section of the road.
Mr Scott added: “What concerns people around here is that there is no infrastructure being planned for when they they build the houses. Where are the schools, the doctors, the dentists the pharmacies?
“People have so many questions that are unanswered.
“Somebody needs to take charge and let people know what’s going on. It’s our money, taxpayers’ money, that has built the bridge and roundabout.”
The current northern section was estimated to cost £48.6 million — with £20.1m from Housing Infrastructure Fund, £27.5m from Lincolnshire County Council and £1m from South Holland District Council.
Rail bosses cannot offer money to fix problem their trains cause
Rail bosses will not offer any money to help finish off Spalding Western Relief Road.
Network Rail says it has no cash available to help finish off the ‘road to nowhere’ but is willing to speak to councillors to ‘further understand the situation’.
The railway line currently splits the town in half - causing traffic misery - and the road is the only solution put forward.
A Network Rail spokesman said: “We are aware of the frustrations that the operation of level crossings can cause to road users.
“We work closely with local partners and emergency services to minimise the impact on the community.
“Network Rail currently has no funding to undertake or contribute to infrastructure improvements in Spalding. We will be happy to speak to the council and further understand the situation and any way we can work together to offer improvements.
“Our colleagues also have meetings twice a year in the Road/Rail Partnership Group with Lincolnshire County Council.”
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