A47 Earl Shilton Bypass

Though the Earl Shilton Bypass is not yet fully approved, much progress has been made to date. The Earl Shilton Bypass gained planning permission in November 2003 and the DfT settlement letter of December 2004 for Local Transport Capital Expenditure in 2005/06 stated that there are no outstanding appraisal issues on this scheme.

The Inspector who carried out the September 2004 public inquiry recommended that necessary compulsory purchase and side roads orders should be confirmed, subject to the availability of funding. The Secretary of State for Transport accepted the Inspector’s conclusions but deferred his decision on the orders until a funding decision is taken.

At their meeting of 20th January 2006, the East Midlands Regional Assembly resolved that a highways infrastructure works programme, which includes funding for the Earl Shilton Bypass from 2007, be recommended to the Government. It is hoped that the Government will make a positive decision and will include this scheme in their transport infrastructure programme in the near future. This will allow the scheme to be programmed for construction commencing Autumn 2007, with the Bypass being open to traffic some 15 to 18 months later.

The County Council's Cabinet is being recommended to go ahead with a new bid to government for funding for the long-awaited Earl Shilton Bypass.

Last December the Department for Transport turned down a bid to fund this £14m scheme.  

Now the Cabinet is being recommended to bid again as part of the Provisional Local Transport Plan for Leicestershire which it is considering on 4th July.

Nicholas Rushton, the County Council's Cabinet Member for Highways and Transportation, said:  "Earl Shilton desperately needs a bypass to overcome severe problems of traffic nuisance and road safety in the town centre.  We have demonstrated that a bypass is feasible and excellent value for money.

"It was very disappointing that the government did not give us the funds last year but I very much hope they will find the money for us this time.  Our preparation work is nearly complete and we can be on site next autumn if we get the funding."

The outcome of the September 2004 public inquiry into the Compulsory Purchase and Side Road Orders is still awaited.

As part of the 2005/06 Local Transport Capital Expenditure Settlement, the Government has announced that the Earl Shilton Bypass does not have sufficient priority for funding at this stage even though the Minister recognised the scheme would deliver significant benefits both to through traffic and to the community of Earl Shilton.

In a Cabinet statement issued on 2nd December, Mr Harry Barber the Lead Member for Highways & Transportation said :

"It is very disappointing that the Government has let down the people of Leicestershire.  The Government commends our performance in delivering transport improvements but unfortunately has not matched this with funds ...... to tackle congestion on our roads. We will continue to press hard for the Earl Shilton Bypass and we will talk to government officials to find out why they have made this decision."

The outcome of the September 2004 public inquiry into the Compulsory Purchase and Side Road Orders is still awaited.