Representation by Easton Parish Council (Easton Parish Council)
- Date submitted
- 12 June 2021
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
On behalf of Easton Parish Council as chairman representing the unanimous support of the Parish Council members at a meeting of the council on the 27th May 2021, I make representation in support of this application. At present, there is no safe way to get to a part of our village on foot or by cycle which limited the travel options of this part of our community. The only safe way to travel is by motor vehicle and even then many Easton residents prefer not to cross the roundabout on the A47 near St Peters Church because of the actual and preceded dangers due to the high speed of traffic on the A47 not slowing down as they approach the roundabout. At present, Church Lane sees at least 4800 on average daily motor vehicle journeys along Church Lane and Ringland Road. This is an unclassified county track. The scheme devised stops the rat-running traffic and provides a safe and secure means for residents to move around the whole village on foot, by cycle, wheelchair or mobility scooter as well as a motor vehicle. This design is supported by the majority of residents as it will help improve the lives of the residents of Easton as a whole. With the proposed plan the dispersed traffic will use more suitable C and B class roads in the local area. This plan even protects the residents of Ringland against rat-running which NCC Highways has to date not been prepared to do. The current plan will improve the economic benefits of the area while improving road safety on this stretch of the A47. It will remove flooding from a stretch of the A47 which has seen major delays and accidents over the years and with climate change has been increasing in recent years. The removal of direct access to many side roads will reduce collisions in the area that have lead to serious injury and in some cases death. The only area of concern as a community we have is concerning the current lack of designed direct access from the FEP onto the A47. We fully accept it is not the responsibility of HE to use public money to build a stretch of road for a private business. However, we feel given that this site and the designated area forms part of the FEZ for this region it is of strategic importance as part of the food supply chain for the region it is vital to ensure everything is done to support a direct link to the A47 even if HE was to provide the connection point and suitable grading to enable access to be created. Highways England engaged, you listened, you developed a locally agreed proposal and now it is time to implement without any further delays.