No Funding Yet For Congestion-Busting Measures In Market Harborough

There is no funding yet to pay for measures to tackle traffic congestion in Market Harborough.

It is four years since a raft of proposals were announced to try and deal with the issue and Leicestershire County Council has revealed a bid for £15m of government cash to pay for the work was turned down.

Highway bosses are now considering other funding streams, although to date no further bids have been put in.

Proposals include junction improvements, upgrading Welland Park Road – to make it the designated through-route instead of Coventry Road – in a bid to take traffic away from the town centre – and making St Mary’s Road one-way from The Square to Adam and Eve Street, or to the Kettering Road/Clarence Street junction.

In addition to seeking government cash, the council is also asking developers to contribute towards the cost, as part of conditions when they are granted planning permission.

Cllr Phil Knowles, Leader of the Opposition at Harborough District Council, says action is needed urgently to tackle congestion in the town:

A spokesperson for Leicestershire County Council said: “Our initial expression of interest in the Pinch Point Fund didn’t progress to the development of a business case so we weren’t able to support highways improvements in Market Harborough through this particular funding stream.

“As we do all the time, we’ll now consider other appropriate Government funding streams to bid for the Harborough improvements as they arise.”

Cllr Phil King, Leader of Harborough District Council, told Hfm tackling congestion remains one of his top priorities: