New Erewash M1 junction plans under consideration

Image by kreatikar from Pixabay

Plans to improve congestion issues off the M1 – including a potential new junction in a bid to alleviate residents’ “misery” – are to be assessed by officials.

At an Erewash Borough Council meeting last week (July 23rd) cross-party approval saw both the Labour administration and Conservative opposition back plans aimed at improving congestion through Sandiacre, Stanton by Dale and Long Eaton.

The council agreed to spend up to £80,000 commissioning an economic appraisal of the options to improve access to former Stanton Ironworks – New Stanton Park –  including the option of a new junction on the M1 at the Lows Lane underpass, to be dubbed Junction 25a.

Currently, large amounts of heavy traffic is said to leave the M1 at Sandiacre Interchange – Junction 25 – leading through the outskirts of Sandiacre, followed by the small village of Stanton by Dale, to reach the sprawling industrial complex south of Ilkeston, either side of Lows Lane.

This expansive industrial area includes the 200-acre redevelopment of the former ironworks to create 5,000 jobs, also leading to 660,650 extra vehicle movements per year.

Many residents in the surrounding area, including through Ilkeston, have already noted a spike in HGV traffic with only a small number of industrial buildings, along with Starbucks and McDonald’s, currently operational on the largely vacant 200-acre plot.

Councillor Wayne Major, Conservative opposition leader, led the call for a council-backed study, saying: “We believe that improving access could both unlock economic potential at New Stanton Park by improving access, attracting investment, and creating employment opportunities, and could alleviate traffic pressure benefiting both local businesses and residents alike.”

He said a new junction could make residents’ lives “like it is worth living” while also allowing for the redevelopment of the “biggest brownfield site in the East Midlands”.

Cllr James Dawson, Labour council leader, supported the pitch, saying the New Stanton Park development was the “most significant economic opportunity in the East Midlands” and sought the support of the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA).

He said: “If we are serious about New Stanton Park we need to be serious about people visiting the site easily without affecting residents nearby.

“The study may show that a new junction is not the right choice, it could be a new link road or an improved railhead, but we need that evidence base to form the basis of negotiations with the Government and the EMCCA.”

He said improvements to access are essential “for the wider benefit of the community and for the investment in economic growth and our future prosperity”.

Cllr Kevin Miller (Con), said former Conservative MP for Erewash Maggie Throup has lobbied her own Government for years for a new M1 junction, with the aim of realigning the M1 as part of HS2.

He said this faltered when HS2 “hit the bumpers”, no longer seeing the building of a new route up through Erewash.

Cllr Miller said: “We need 25a to alleviate the misery of Sandiacre, Long Eaton and Stanton by Dale residents. Their lives are a misery due to accidents and pollution.”

Summing up, Cllr Major said: “We need to make sure we show we have belief and ambition and this is the first step to deliver that growth and protect local residents.”