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'Bitter disappointment' as bypass plan is dropped

James GrantNorthamptonshire
BBC The centre of Isham, with the parish church in the background. Cars and lorries are travelling on the main road.BBC
The A509 between Wellingborough and Kettering cuts through Isham and villagers have long wanted it diverted

A council leader said he was disappointed the government had dropped a long-planned bypass from its national funding programme.

The A509 Isham bypass was first proposed in 2003 by the now defunct Northamptonshire County Council, but it was delayed by funding problems.

On Friday, it was removed from the Major Road Network and Large Local Majors Programme, after a review by the Department for Transport (DfT). North Northamptonshire Council leader Martin Griffiths said he shared "the bitter disappointment" of residents who had waited "many years" for the road.

A DfT spokesperson said it could only go ahead with schemes that were "good value for money".

Griffiths added: "We will continue to make the case for investment in North Northamptonshire and work constructively with government and partners to understand the options available."

Laura Coffey/BBC A man in a navy blazer and light blue shirt and tie looks centrally at the camera. Behind him is a glass building. Laura Coffey/BBC
Reform UK's Martin Griffiths, leader of North Northamptonshire Council, said he shared the "frustrations" of residents who had campaigned for the bypass

The proposed route started at the new Symmetry Park roundabout, south of junction nine on the A14.

It would have run west of Isham before rejoining the A509 Kettering Road between Hill Top and Great Harrowden.

North Northamptonshire Council previously said the approximate total cost of the construction would be £116m.

A closeup of a yellow placard. "Bypass Isham NOW" is written on it.
Residents have been campaigning for a bypass for Isham for more than 20 years

The Reform UK-led authority said the DfT had told it in a letter that it had inherited a programme of unaffordable and unfunded schemes.

The DfT said it had prioritised projects it considered to offer the highest value for money, but said the bypass could be reconsidered if suitable funding arose and a compelling business case was made.

Chris McGiffen, a Reform councillor with a responsibility for highways, said: "This announcement is extremely disappointing, not just for North Northamptonshire Council, but for the many local residents, businesses and road users."

The DfT spokesperson added: "Given the challenging financial picture we inherited, we have had to make difficult decisions on a number of road projects and can only progress schemes that are good value for money for taxpayers."

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