Isham residents count traffic in continued fight for bypass

Villagers have campaigned for a bypass for decades and, while Northants County Council plans to build one, funds for the road have dried up.

But their fight has got even bigger after plans were unveiled for a huge logistics park on the edge of the village, which would be the size of Weetabix and Morrisons combined.

Last year, 25,386 vehicles went through the village in a 24-hour period on November 3.

Village campaigner Graham Rait, who lives in Middle Street, says this year’s figure - which will be totalled up on Monday - will be even bigger.

He said: “At 1pm we were already 659 up on the same time of day as last year.

“We’re probably looking at a five per cent increase. We really need a bypass.

“What we struggle with is that Symmetry [which is planning the logistics park] say that there will only be an extra 300 vehicle movements a day if it gets approved.

“If there’s 2,800 jobs and half come through the village, and then half of those share a car, that’s still 700 vehicles in and out.

“And then there’s the lorries bringing goods in and taking them out. And that’s optimistic.”

MP for Wellingborough Peter Bone presented a petition, which was signed by almost every Isham resident, against the plans to Parliament earlier this week.

Mr Rait added: “This logistics park could destroy the village.”

Residents {http://www.northantstelegraph.co.uk/news/isham-residents-vent-anger-at-huge-logistics-park-plans-1-7599025|vented their anger|at the plans at a public meeting in September.