Calls for village bypass

Residents of a South Holland village are looking to move because of the heavy traffic thundering through on a busy road.
The amount of HGVs using the A151 through Whaplode is causing housing to vibrate and residents are prepared to move to escape it.
Around 50 people have contacted Coun Peter Coupland in just two or three days after he issued a flyer asking for views.
“It has been really noticeable over the last 18 months that the heavy traffic has increased on the roads and people have even said they are thinking of moving because of it,” said Mr Coupland, deputy leader of South Holland District Council and a county councillor standing for re-election in May.
“I really wanted to gauge the reaction of residents, to see if there was any support for a bypass. It will take years, but we have to make a start,” he said.
Mr Coupland said government ‘levelling-up’ cash could go towards the cost. The money is released in a bid to even-out the per capita spending in rural and urban areas. Towns and cities have traditionally been better funded per residents and cash boosts are offered to redress the balance.
“I have received many, many complaints over the last year or so relating to the state of the High Road surface and the increase in HGV traffic since the Peppermint roundabout was opened on the A17 at Holbeach,” says his flyer.
“The long-term solution would be for the A151 to bypass Whaplode – and Moulton,” he added.
Previous campaigns for a village bypass have been started, but the money has never been available for a relief road. Whaplode is the only village along the A17 from Sutterton to Sutton Bridge that is cut in half by a major road, said Coun Coupland.
He said: “It is a major road and Lincolnshire County Council has neglected it a bit over the years.”
The easiest route, of just over three miles, would not involve any major civil engineering works as it would be across flat land and no rivers, taking traffic from the Peppermint roundabout around the villages to re-link with the Weston bypass.
A Whaplode resident who declined to be named, said the village was being spoilt by the amount of traffic.
“Houses shake with vibration and the noise at night is dreadful,” they said.
Coun Coupland said the road surface was in need of repair as a lot of the noise was caused by potholes and rattling ironwork. He is hopeful the surface will be dealt with as a short term measure, but will run a campaign to get a bypass in the future.
He is still keen to hear from residents of the village so their views can be added to the call for the new road.
lA full list of county council candidates for the election on Thursday, May 6 can be found on the website for Lincolnshire County Council.
Candidates for Holbeach Rural are Peter Coupland, Conservative, Christopher Clark, Green and Edward McNally, Independent.