People are being asked to have their say on plans to build a bypass on the A45 around the villages of Flore, Weedon and Upper Heyford – a priority scheme for Northamptonshire County Council.

The county council is presenting four bypass options for consideration including one lower cost northern bypass route which was developed in view of the current shortage of public finance.

The county council’s Cabinet will use the public’s input from the consultation to help make a decision on whether a bypass is sufficiently supported to develop one route as a ‘preferred route’ to take forward and protect the line from further development.

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Cllr Andre Gonzalez De Savage, county council cabinet member for infrastructure and public protection, said: "The A45 Flore, Weedon and Upper Heyford bypass is a priority scheme for the county council and a great deal of work is going on to bring the project forward.

"The county council has decided it is time to re-open the discussion on the bypass to allow users of the A45 and local communities to comment on whether they think a bypass is needed, which route option they think is best and whether they support the lower-cost and hopefully more deliverable option that has been developed."

A number of years ago the local community were consulted about a bypass and there was strong support at that time for a northern bypass to Weedon and Flore.

Since then there has been a lack of funding opportunities for road schemes nationally and the plans have not been taken forward.

Now the county council is once again checking people’s views to see if they have changed since the previous consultation.

Due to the statutory processes involved in building a road, it would be a minimum of five years before a bypass could be open.

(CD/GK)