Inquiry begins into Lincoln ring-road expansion

Amy Carr
BBC News, Lincolnshire
Julian P Guffogg/Geograph A dual carriageway road snakes across a rural landscape of green and brown fields, dotted with electricity pylons, under a grey sky. Several bridges can be seen.Julian P Guffogg/Geograph
The North Hykeham relief road would link the Lincoln Eastern Bypass with the A46

A public inquiry has begun over plans to build a road near Lincoln.

The £200m North Hykeham relief road would link the A46 with the Eastern Bypass, completing the ring road network around the city.

Objections have been received from landowners and businesses, who face having their land used or purchased. An independent inspector, appointed by the transport secretary, will also hear evidence from Lincolnshire County Council and other supporters of the scheme over the next two weeks.

Sam Edwards, head of highways infrastructure at the council, told the BBC that "constructive dialogue" with objectors would continue in the background.

In his opening statement to the inquiry, Simon Randle, the council's advocate, said time was of the essence for the project.

He argued that the proposed compulsory purchase orders were justified in order to cater for present and future traffic around Lincoln to "allow for growth essential to the city's future" and to provide a direct link across from the A46 to the A15.

Only one business objecting to the scheme – Travelodge Hotels – was represented at the opening session.

Other objectors are expected to attend next week, when they will be able to cross-examine witnesses for the council.

Lincolnshire County Council An aerial photograph showing the ring road crossing agricultural land south of Lincoln.Lincolnshire County Council
The new road would link the A46 at North Hykeham with the Lincoln Eastern Bypass

Mr Edwards told the BBC that the project was widely supported and a number of objections to compulsory purchase orders had been overcome.

"We received 12 objections to the orders. This is an incredibly low number considering the size of the scheme," he said.

Many of the remaining objectors did not "object to the principle of the scheme", but to "smaller elements" of it, he added.

A total of £110m in government funding, more than half of the project's total cost, was pledged in 2019 under the previous Conservative government.

However, last year the present Labour administration commissioned a review of the Department for Transport's capital spend portfolio, meaning confirmation of the funding has yet to be given.

The new Reform UK administration has confirmed that it will keep the county council's commitment to providing the remaining £90m for the project.

If construction starts on time, the road is expected to be opened late in 2028.

The proposed timetable for the inquiry can be found on the Lincolnshire County council website.

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