A new transport study into the A43 Northampton-Kettering area is under way by the specialist engineers MGWSP working for Northants County council. It is helpful finally to get some proper work done on the problems the road faces. But we can't wait until next year before getting something done.
This site has been lobbying since 2006 for some basic safety improvements. In particular putting in a sensible 50 mph speed limit for all vehicles to reduce accidents and congestion. This means lorries can go a bit quicker and cars slower so there is less dangerous overtaking. The Council have done absolutely nothing since 2006 to make the A43 safer. The Government have made it absolutely clear that Northants County Council is responsible for the road, not the DfT in London. Because the road is unsafe people drive through the villages parallel to the road. So the Council are doing a study. This site will become active again as we follow the study. Sign up for an email update (on the left of the screen) each time we post something new.
There is a 'stakeholder group' on Friday for MGWSP to guage the extent of local feeling as a precursor to the study and one would hope build a community around making the road safer quickly (see below).
MGWSP have just been appointed this year with a lucrative £320m contract over 8 years. It is their job to look after roads:
Bob Seery, Northamptonshire County Council's cabinet member for roads and transport, commented: “MGWSP were identified as the best bidder based on the needs of the council and for the county's roads going forward. MGWSP will play a key role in the development of highways programmes and projects. The contract will look to develop and bring forward innovations in highways management using all the latest technology to secure the best value for money.”
The invite to a consultation/stakeholder event follows:
>>I am writing to inform you of the transport study that is currently taking place on the A43 between Northampton and Kettering and to ask for your involvement in the process.
The study at this stage is gathering information through surveys which will be carried out in the autumn, to identify possible options on how to tackle the congestion issues along this stretch of road.
These options will then be taken forward next year and explored further with a view to developing a scheme to implement in future years.
Currently many people use the roads through the villages to avoid the congestion on the A43 and we therefore intend that our study should cover the area bounded by Northampton in the south, the A14 in the north, A508 to the west and A509 to the east.
We are keen to ensure that we take on the views of the local communities and have therefore organised a stakeholder meeting to which we are inviting the councils representing the study area so that we have a comprehensive view of the problems related to the A43.
This initial meeting will be mainly to establish that the surveys we are intending to carry out in the autumn are suitable.
The details of this stakeholder meeting are as follows:
Date: Friday 1st August 2008
Time: 10:00 – 12:00
Venue: Kettering Conference Centre
Thurston Drive
Kettering
Northants, NN15 6PB
Tel (of the venue): 01536 414 414
Please could you let me know if you or a representative are able to attend this meeting.
Yours sincerely
Rula Abou-Rahme
Transport Planner
Email: [email protected]
Rula Abou-Rahme
Transport Planner
MGWSP Northamptonshire Highways
2nd Floor, Riverside House, Riverside Way, Northampton, NN1 5NX
DDI: +44(0)1604 654661
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