Inquiry begins into North Hykeham relief road plan for Lincoln
In his opening statement to the inquiry, Simon Randle, the council's advocate, said time was of the essence for the project. He argued that the proposed compulsory purchase orders were justified in order to cater for present and future traffic around Lincoln to "allow for growth essential to the city's future" and to provide a direct link across from the A46 to the A15.Only one business objecting to the scheme – Travelodge Hotels – was represented at the opening session. Other objectors are expected to attend next week, when they will be able to cross-examine witnesses for the council.
Mr Edwards told the BBC that the project was widely supported and a number of objections to compulsory purchase orders had been overcome."We received 12 objections to the orders. This is an incredibly low number considering the size of the scheme," he said. Many of the remaining objectors did not "object to the principle of the scheme", but to "smaller elements" of it, he added.
A total of £110m in government funding, more than half of the project's total cost, was pledged in 2019 under the previous Conservative government.However, last year the present Labour administration commissioned a review of the Department for Transport's capital spend portfolio, meaning confirmation of the funding has yet to be given.The new Reform UK administration has confirmed that it will keep the county council's commitment to providing the remaining £90m for the project.If construction starts on time, the road is expected to be opened late in 2028.The proposed timetable for the inquiry can be found on the Lincolnshire County council website.
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