A46 Newark Bypass upgrade proposed by National Highways backed by Newark Town Council planning committee

Town councillors are set to reverse their objection to plans to upgrade the A46 Newark Bypass.

The council's planning committee approved a motion proposed by the Conservative group to support the proposals for the bypass, recognising the advantages regarding safety, congestion alleviation, connectivity and economic development.

The motion also called for all agencies to expedite the development of the Southern Link Road so there can be effective traffic management solutions during the construction phase of the A46.

It is a u-turn on a decision made by the council in November to object to the £360m project to improve the A46 being planned by National Highways.

Labour’s committee chairman Lisa Geary claimed there were no benefits to the dualling, other than lorry drivers shaving ten minutes from their journeys, which was outweighed by the environmental impact and visual pollution.

Since then the National Highways has given a presentation to the council to try to alleviate the concerns.

The motion was proposed by Conservative group leader David Lloyd and seconded by Max Cope.

Johno Lee said: “This is something that businesses owners and residents that we represent have been calling for at least 20 years and we have been missing it.

“I was really surprised, shocked and upset for the residents that the Newark Town Council put at risk the amount of work the national government, district, town and county councils have done trying to bring these works forward for the residents of Newark."

An amendment to the motion was put forward by Lisa Geary and seconded by Independent member Esther Cropper.

They proposed to object to the bypass proposal and spend the money on improving Newark roads.

Lisa Geary said: “Newark Town Council has agreed our concern over the climate emergency affecting us locally, nationally and globally. We agreed that difficult decisions must be made to reduce carbon emissions and protect the environment and wildlife.

“The BBC report that the A46 bypass will cost the equivalent of 250 years of the council’s annual budget, the destruction of trees and wildlife, as well as causing several years of disruption to Newark, while only delivering a small time saving to some people, most of whom are just going past the town.”

The proposed amendment was voted against and the original motion proposed by councillor Lloyd was approved by five votes to two and one abstention.

The motion will now go to the next full meeting of the council to be ratified.