COMMENT: Northern link debate is set to run and run (From Worcester News)

COMMENT: Northern link debate is set to run and run

8:10am Wednesday 10th February 2010 in

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THE IDEA of a northern link road for Worcester has been a subject of controversy for more than three decades.

It has been in and out of council transport strategies more times than legs and arms during the average hokey cokey dance.

Less than two years ago County Hall highways chiefs ruled out its construction because it would have a negative economic impact on Worcester.

Now it is back on the agenda to the extent that today we can reveal the two possible routes for the road as proposed by consultants employed by the county council.

The information has been posted on the council’s website as a result of a Freedom of Information request.

Yet those people most affected by the proposals – those whose land or homes would disappear if the road were built – appear to have been kept in the dark. One man whose house would be knocked down knew nothing about the proposed routes until this newspaper spoke to him. That cannot be right.

There will be many people unhappy at the publication of these proposed routes, not least those who will now fear the value of their land and property is blighted.

But there will be others for whom the construction of a northern link road cannot come soon enough.

This is an argument in which there appears to be no middle ground.

The reality, of course, is that a northern link road is as far away as it has ever been despite the publication of these alternative routes. Many millions of pounds are needed from the Government to pay for it and that is unlikely to be forthcoming at a time of public sector cutbacks.

Who would bet against the northern link road still being a debating point 30 years from now?

• Please read our story about the two proposed routes here then vote in our poll below to indicate your preference.