The Humble Petition of the residents of Wellingborough, Rushden and East Northamptonshire and the surrounding areas,
Sheweth,
That the Petitioners believe that the heavy traffic congestion on the A45 between Stanwick and the A14 at the Chowns Mill Roundabout is unacceptable because there are numerous accidents which result in serious injury and loss of life and further that the Petitioners believe that the main A road delays between the M1 and the A14 cause economic damage to the local and regional economy.
Wherefore your Petitioners pray that your Honourable House urges the Department for Transport to encourage Northamptonshire County Council and East Northamptonshire District Council to work together to ensure, as a matter of urgency, that the A45 is dualled between Stanwick and the A14 and that significant improvements are made to the Chowns Mill Roundabout including grade separation.
And your Petitioners, as duty bound, will ever pray, &c.—[Presented by Mr Peter Bone, Official Report, 10 September 2014; Vol. 585, c. 1048.]
[P001386]
Observations from the Secretary of State for Transport:
The A45 between M1 Junction 15 and the A14 at Thrapston is a trunk road and part of the strategic roads network managed by the Highways Agency. The issues raised in the petition therefore fall to the Highways Agency to seek to progress.
The Highways Agency is aware of these issues and the concerns of the residents of Wellingborough, Rushden and East Northamptonshire. It is developing a route strategy which will consider this section of the A45 and look at the feasibility of dualling the Stanwick to Thrapston section and at the improvements needed to the Chowns Mill roundabout.
The route strategy will be completed within this financial year and will help to inform the Highways Agency future investment strategy for the period 2015-21. The Agency will continue working with Northamptonshire county council and East Northamptonshire council, once details of future funding are confirmed, as to how the issues raised in the petition may be addressed.