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Link Road - The View from Across the Boundary
Just when we thought things could not be more confused regarding the indicative route for the proposed extension of the
Dudley South Bypass to the A449, a resident 'in the know' on the other side of the boundary
informs us that Staffordshire Council will not be
accepting either of the options put forward to the people of Gornal in recent weeks.
Yampy readers following the twists and turns of this saga (Click here for last Council
Meeting decision) will be under the impression that the road will either meet the A449 at the Himley traffic lights or
thereabouts, or will take a sharp right at the Dudley/Staffs border to exit somewhere between the Crooked House
and High Arcal Lane. After all, at the North Dudley Extraordinary Meeting there was a map displayed
in the lobby showing the route passing either along, or right next to, the Himley Road.
However, we understand that Staffordshire's preferred option remains a route that emerges onto the A449 further towards
Kingswinford, around Holbeache Lane. It appears at first sight to be a magnanimous gesture, allowing their green belt
land to be sacrificed rather than dumping the problem onto Gornal. But wait.. this route would hug the boundary at
Kingswinford and Wall Heath - just within Dudley's jurisdiction!
Councillor Sparks was at pains to point out
to Cllr. Stanley in the Council Chamber the other night that Dudley and Staffordshire are working extremely closely
together on this matter. If so, he will no doubt wish to clarify the situation for us. And if not, an apology is due
to the Gornal Councillor, Mr. Sparks.
Of course, such a plan would appear, for better or worse depending on your view-point, to remove Gornal from the bypass
equation. And, with Gornal severed from South Dudley by a huge motorway style dual carriageway, why, we would be
snuggled up against Wombourne so tight that they may as well put us back in Staffordshire, where we belong!
There is a very interesting website at
www.antibypasscampaign.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk that explains more about the 'Holbeache' route and shows with maps and
text how the Dudley South Bypass scheme fits into the grand plan to skirt the whole of Wolverhampton and Dudley.
If you have any views on this subject, why not email us at
admin@yampy.co.uk
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