Kibworth Bypass Back On Agenda But ‘Decades’ Away

A bypass around the Kibworth villages has been identified as a potential long-term solution to traffic problems on the A6.

Leicestershire County Council says early work suggests the relief road is the only way to tackle congestion and cope with future housing growth.

However, officers warn the scale of investment needed means it would not be delivered in the short term, with any new road likely to take decades to come forward.

A bypass has been under discussion for several years, but no concrete plans have progressed, and Councillor Phil King, who represents the area, says securing funding remains a key challenge:

The potential road scheme will be investigated as part of Leicestershire County Council’s new ‘Spatial Development Strategy,’ which will work to ensure roads and transport networks are prepared for future growth.

Cllr Harrison Fowler, cabinet member for resources, says a bypass is the only solution to deal with the traffic problems on the A6 in Kibworth.

Meanwhile, Harborough MP Neil O’Brien has launched a petition calling for urgent safety improvements on the A6 through Kibworth.

It follows confirmation from Leicestershire County Council that there is no plan, funding or timetable to upgrade the Church Road and New Road junctions – despite safety concerns being identified almost a decade ago.

Mr O’Brien says residents will be “astonished” that other schemes are being prioritised, while what he describes as dangerous junctions remain unchanged.

He is urging local people to back the petition and press the county council to act:

 

LCC says major projects take time and significant investment and improvements will be made at the Wistow Road roundabout junction.

A spokesperson added: “We’re proposing to move ahead with improvements at Wistow Roundabout to ease congestion, improve traffic flow, and support better connections for local communities and businesses and are just finalising draft designs ready for engagement with our communities.

“We’ll invite feedback from residents and other stakeholders on the proposals and designs in spring 2026 with a view to deliver in 2027.

“We know there are wider concerns about traffic in Kibworth.

“Further improvements on the A6 will depend on future funding, but delivering Wistow now is an important step towards addressing the bigger picture and supporting growth in the area.”