Concerns for A1 due to Stamford developments

Crucial improvement work needs to happen on A1 slip roads to stop Stamford being swamped by increased traffic.

The current application made to build 650 homes in Rutland, as part of the first phase of the Stamford North development, has led to concerned residents raising issues about the stresses it will put on the local road network.

LCC Highways are not involved with the development of this scheme, but are a consultee in the planning process enabling concerns about traffic flow in the area to be raised. We recognise the concerns being raised by local residents.

In particular, the main concern that must be addressed is the need for crucial improvements to access slip roads on the A1. These will be necessary to accommodate the increase in traffic flow. LCC Highways does not look after the A1 route, this is taken care of by National Highways.

However, the issues caused on the A1 will clearly have major impacts on the residents and businesses in and around Stamford. These issues need to be resolved early, at the planning stage, so that the appropriate infrastructure is in place, ready for the increased traffic numbers the development will bring.

Without these concerns met and resolved by National Highways, the increase in traffic numbers accessing the A1 from the development could see the struggling slip roads on the major route cause spillback onto local roads around Stamford.

Cllr Richard Davies, executive member for highways said: “Increased traffic from the development accessing the A1 will clearly cause some impact.

“The amount of new traffic coming on and off the major route will be a large, additional burden to the area. This has to be considered by National Highways and the developers. Access to the A1 slip road is, naturally, limited to the amount of traffic that can access the major road at any time.

“It’s possible that if access routes to the A1 aren’t improved and issues addressed by the National Highways network, then our residents could be the ones to suffer from the traffic fallout. If the slip roads issue isn’t dealt with early on, we will see large increases in the amount of traffic coming through Stamford in order to access the new development, instead of sitting in long queues on the A1.

“There is a lot of potential for this to cause a significant increase in issues for all concerned. We share residents’ criticisms around this scheme and the impact it may have, unless appropriate measures are taken.

“Whilst these development decisions undertaken do not directly involve LCC Highways, we will offer our advice and expertise to those looking after access on and off the A1. We will try and find a solution for the impact that such a scheme will have on the area and ensure that developers are aware of the ongoing reasons for the concerns that we hold.”