Thirty years in the doldrums

IT'S hardly news to anyone that Millennium Way should have been finished a long time ago - 30 years ago to be precise.

Proof of just how long delayed work has been came in a letter sent to the 'MAIL' this week - which had been circulated by the Department of the Environment in May 1976.

It outlined that works on Edward Street and Union Street were to begin in 1978 and be completed by 1979, it also stated that works on Union Street and Malcolm Road were to begin in 1980 and be completed by 1981, this time frame was also given for the works on Malcolm Road and Gilford Road.

Thirty years later these works have yet to be completed.

And with the unfinished road adding to the traffic problems in the town, which have already been impacted by the Public Realm works, there have been calls to the Roads Service to finish the road.

Hopefully the pleas to the Roads Service will be answered sooner rather than later, as traffic congestion in the town could not survive another thirty years in the doldrums.

Just a couple of week's ago there was a further update on the progress (or lack of it) on the road with the Roads Service pointing out it had now completed route selection and preliminary design for the Malcolm Road to Gilford Road link.

Planning approval has also been obtained with a view to advancing the Vesting Order and completing the detailed design.

However, the devil is very much in the detail with Roads Service citing limited funds and pointing out the scheme was on a list of schemes to be considered for inclusion in a future programme should additional funds become available - translation we could be waiting a while yet.