An initial consultation was carried out in November 2001 to establish which routes should be examined in the review. A preferred route development brief for the investigation of thirteen routes for the A509 Isham Bypass was issued in January 2002.
The transport study, necessary to establish the economics and effectiveness of each route, commenced with traffic surveys in April 2002. Atkins carried out detailed studies on an initial longlist of 8 routes, and the results were reported to members of the Wider Reference Group in January 2003.
The Wider Reference Group decided on a final shortlist of 3 routes which were shown at a public exhibition and consultation held in February/March 2003. A preferred route to the west of Isham was then selected at the County Council Executive in May 2003.
An Environmental Appraisal of Isham Bypass was carried out by consultants Atkins and the final report was published in July 2003.The report consists of three volumes, as follows:
- Volume 1 - Main Text
- Volume 2 - Illustrations
- Volume 3 - Appendices
A 'bid' for government funding was submitted in July 2003. Provisional approval for the scheme was announced by the government in December 2003.
The process of preparing the Environmental Impact Assessment (Stage 3), which will accompany the planning application, was started in November 2003 with the issuing of a Scoping Report to the Wider Reference Group.
A consultation on the Draft Environmental Statement was undertaken in Autumn 2004 with an exhibition held in Isham (October 26th) and Little Harrowden (November 12th). Consultees were asked to return their comments to Atkins by December 17th.
A report on the consultation was considered in public by the cabinet member responsible for Transport on 27th January 2005. The cabinet member decided that we should modify the draft Environmental Statement as described in a report submitted by the Director of Sustainability, and then submit a planning application for the bypass as soon as possible.
In addition the administrative processes of 'classifying' the proposed bypass as the A509, and reclassifying the existing A509 through Isham as a classified un-numbered (C-class) road will be started.
As a consequence of the consultation into the Draft Environmental Statement, it was agreed that a detailed examination and further consultation should be conducted on the Rights of Way that were intersected by the bypass. This took place in March and April 2005 and the measures to be incorporated into the scheme were confirmed by the Head of Sustainable Transport in June 2005
Planning Application
At the end of July 2005 a planning application for the scheme was submitted to the County Planning Officer. Included in the supporting evidence was the full Environmental Statement.
Isham Bypass - Environmental Statement
On 17th January 2006 the our Development Control Committee approved the application for planning permission for the A509 Isham Bypass, subject to the Highways Agency's concerns being satisfactorily overcome, together with the conditions outlined in the report.
The report by the Head of Sustainable Development to the Development Control Committee can be found on our:
Detailed discussions took place between the Highways Agency and ourselves resulting in the lifting of the holding direction imposed by the Highways Agency. Planning permission was subsequently granted on 5th May 2006.
Confirmed Funding
In July 2006 the Secretary of State for Transport announced the Regional Funding Allocations (RFAs), and confirmed that the A509 Isham Bypass is approved for funding within the next 3 years (2006 / 2007 to 2008 / 2009).
Orders
The Side Roads Order and Compulsory Purchase Order were published in December 2006 and January 2007 respectively. There have been 6 statutory objections to the Orders, together with 70 non-statutory objections, and 38 letters of support, and the Secretary of State decided to hold a Public Inquiry into the Orders.
Public Enquiry
The Public Inquiry was held on Tuesday 30th October 2007. Documents presented by the county council are listed below and were also held on deposit for inspection at various locations.
Decision
The Secretary of State decided to confirm the Orders and this was published on 12th June 2008.