Isham Parish Council’s legal challenge to a decision unlinking the A509 bypass plan from an application for Wellingborough’s Glenvale Park housing estate has been refused.

Last month campaigners had their hopes dashed after long-promised bypass plans – to stop Kettering to Wellingborough traffic ploughing through their community – were dropped.

The Department for Transport announced the Isham bypass had been axed from the Major Road Network and Large Local Majors Programme following a national review of road projects, saying it wasn’t high enough on the ‘value for money’ list.

After Isham bypass plans shelved residents left with fury, frustration, fumes an...

Isham Parish Council has been campaigning for a bypass for the village for decades - chairman of Isham PC Andrew Tidbury/ Inset Stuart Andrew MP for Daventry/IMG

Isham Parish Council had hoped its court challenge could see a planning condition reinstating the link between the completion of Isham bypass to the construction of thousands of homes in nearby Wellingborough.

A spokesman for Isham Parish Council said: “Isham Parish Council is disappointed to announce that its application for a judicial review concerning the decision to remove the Isham Bypass from the Glenvale Park development proposals has been refused.

“The parish council had sought to challenge the decision, recognising the significant impact that the loss of the proposed bypass would have on Isham and its residents.

“For many decades, the proposed Isham bypass has been viewed as a vital opportunity to reduce the volume of traffic travelling through the village, particularly heavy goods vehicles, and to address longstanding concerns about road safety, congestion, air quality and the quality of life of those living along the main road.

“The decision to remove the bypass from the development proposals was deeply disappointing, and the parish council believed it was important to explore the legal options available to challenge that decision and represent the interests of the community.”

Residents have been fighting for decades for a bypass with traffic on the A509 increasing with bumper-to-bumper congestion experienced during the rush hours.

The spokesman added: “Isham Parish Council remains committed to representing the interests of residents and ensuring that the ongoing traffic issues affecting the village are not overlooked.

“The council will continue to engage with the relevant authorities, elected representatives and other stakeholders to explore what options may be available to improve road safety, manage traffic and protect the wellbeing of the community.

“Although this legal challenge has not achieved the outcome we had hoped for, our commitment to securing a safer and better future for Isham remains unchanged.”

Last week in the House of Commons Stuart Andrew, MP for Daventry, whose constituency covers Isham, invited roads minister Justin Madders MP (Ellesmere Port and Bromborough) to visit Isham to see for himself the need for the bypass.

Mr Andrews said: “The village of Isham in my constituency is sandwiched between Wellingborough and Kettering, and for 40 years it has been battling to get a bypass. The situation has now got worse because of a huge development of warehousing, yet the bypass has been refused funding. May I invite the Minister to Isham, where I would give him a warm welcome? It is only when people see it for themselves that they can understand how desperately we need this bypass.”

Mr Madders said he would be happy to pop by and to discuss the project.

He said: “I am happy to do that; I think it would probably be on my way home one weekend. We have invested a record amount of money in our networks, and there is only a finite amount, but I am happy to discuss the issue further with the right honourable member.