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Inquiry on bypass is under way
L11-511 Traffic in Dunstable High Street North and South. Anne O'Donoghue JR 16 19.4.11
SOUTH West Beds MP Andrew Selous has urgently pressed the case for the A5 Dunstable northern bypass, at the public inquiry into the scheme.
On Friday, February 10, the MP spoke at the inquiry, being held in Dunstable, to show his strong support in person.
Planning inspector David Wildsmith is spearheading the vital inquiry at the Superdrug Stores Conference Centre, in ProLogis Park, Arenson Way.
The MP spoke of the great need for the bypass, which would be a 2.9-mile dual carriageway, running east from the A5 north of Dunstable to link to the M1 at a new junction, 11a.
He had called for a bypass to go ahead in his maiden speech as an MP, in 2001. Former South West Beds MP Sir David Madel had previously campaigned for a bypass for the area for 31 years.
Mr Selous told the inquiry of how he had presented a town petition for the bypass, with 25,000 signatures, to the House of Commons.
He warned that delays were causing the cost of the scheme to spiral, and talked of the many benefits that the bypass was expected to bring.
And he also highlighted the levels of asthma among children living near the heavily congested A5, saying that they were higher than elsewhere in Dunstable or in the surrounding area.
Mr Selous told the Gazette: “I think a very strong case has been made by the Highways Agency, who are promoting the road, by Central Beds Council, by the town council, by myself and by individuals who are going along.
“I made the point that in all my time as an MP I have only had one person write to say they didn’t want the road and everyone else says: ‘Why didn’t we get this road a very long time ago?’”
He added: “Dunstable and Houghton Regis need to be freed from the terrible congestion that they face every day.”
Supporters and objectors are voicing their views at the inquiry, which got under way on February 7 and is expected to last for three weeks.
In the opening statement for the Highways Agency, barrister Christopher Lewsley said: “The Highways Agency believes that the advantages of the scheme very substantially outweigh the disadvantages and that there is a strong case in the public interest for the scheme to be constructed as soon as possible, and that the evidence to the inquiry demonstrates this.”
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