Polls open for council and first Lincolnshire Mayoral elections
Polling stations across Lincolnshire have opened for the county's first directly elected mayor.All 70 seats across Lincolnshire County Council are also being contested.Registered voters will be able to cast their ballots from 07:00 to 22:00 BST on Thursday.The result for the mayoral election is expected to be announced at Grimsby Town Hall on Friday.
As head of the Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority (GLCCA), the mayor will represent around 1.1 million people who live in the combined county.They will oversee decisions on housing, public transport, infrastructure, economic development, business, skills and regeneration.A devolution deal approved by the government last September resulted in the creation of a Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority (GLCCA).This has brought together Lincolnshire County Council, North East Lincolnshire Council and North Lincolnshire Council.Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
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The Independent
5 days ago
- The Independent
No money left to finish road connecting £50m ‘bridge to nowhere', Lincolnshire council admits
A UK council that spent £50 million building a ' bridge to nowhere' has admitted that it cannot afford to complete the project without external funding. Lincolnshire County Council finished building the bridge last year as part of a £110 million project to ease traffic on the A16 route around the west side of Spalding. On Monday (June 2), the council confirmed that £33 million was missing from the budget to complete the connecting 6.5km sections of the Spalding Western Relief Road. Original plans for the project, which started construction in 2022, proposed a '7.3m-wide single carriage road in five sections'. The council budget for 2025 to 2026 allocated £27.7 million in funding towards finishing the southern section of the road. Estimated costs to complete this section of the relief road are between £50 million and £60 million. According to the council website, no funding has been identified for the southern or middle sections of the relief road. 'Contributions from developers are expected to be the primary source of funding for both,' it adds. Aerial pictures show the route comes to a quick stop at the end of the completed bridge. The project is not expected to be finished until at least 2030 as the council looks to secure funding. A spokesperson for the council's highways department said: 'Construction of the north section of the Spalding Western Relief Road was completed in October 2024. 'In the approved 2025/26 council budget, there is currently £27.7m earmarked towards building the southern section of the Spalding Western Relief Road in the future. However, the current estimated cost of building this section is between £50-60 million, which means external funding will be needed. That is why we are continuing to work closely with South Holland District Council to identify funding opportunities, including remaining in touch with Homes England. 'In addition, no funding has yet been allocated or secured for the middle sections of the relief road as these are intended to be built in the long-term, as outlined in the South East Lincolnshire Local Plan.' The council added that the northern section of the relief road had opened up land allocated for an initial 1,100 homes as outlined in the South East Lincolnshire Local Plan.
Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Council slammed for £50million ‘bridge to nowhere' as officials admit they ‘can't afford to finish half-built road'
ROAD RAGE Council slammed for £50million 'bridge to nowhere' as officials admit they 'can't afford to finish half-built road' A COUNCIL has been slammed for building a "bridge to nowhere" that may never be finished. The £50 million bridge was part of a project started by Lincolnshire County Council in 2022 to ease traffic on the A16. Advertisement 3 Construction has been delayed by monetary issues Credit: Bav Media 3 The "bridge to nowhere" has left locals angry about wasted taxpayer money Credit: Bav Media 3 An estimated £50 to £60 million is needed to finish the project Credit: Bav Media On Monday, May 2, officials admitted the project - known as the Spalding western relief road - might not be completed. It comes as the council are seeking up to £33 million in "external funding" in the hopes of finishing the development. They cited "turbulent" years for the shortage of cash, including rising costs during the pandemic, inflation, and problems caused by the national economy. This led the council to scrap nearly £28 million in funding in 2023 for their road projects. Advertisement As a result, the relief road has been left with a "road to nowhere bridge." Residents and campaigners have been left frustrated by the lack of progress on the project. They have criticised it as a waste of taxpayer money, as aerial photos showed that the ongoing work had suddenly stopped. In a YouTube video about the project, Jon Jefferson who runs Auto Shenanigans, was critical of the "road to nowhere bridge." Advertisement Commenters on the video shared their own frustrations with similarly unfinished projects across the UK. One wrote: "We have an unfinished roundabout with NO finish date for when it will ever open. Total p*** take of the tax-payers." Blyth's Crisis: Locals Voice Anger Over Crime, Job Losses, and Political Betrayal Another sarcastically commented: "Awesome. A road with no traffic and rail lines with no trains." Others expressed their disappointment at the state of British infrastructure, writing: "It's got to the point I'll be dizzy with astonishment and suspicion when a road project success story comes along." Advertisement Construction of the north section of the four-mile-long, five-section road was completed in October 2024 - including the bridge. This 0.6 mile stretch of road, was complete with a T-junction for later extension, and a bridge over a railway between Doncaster and Peterborough. The council's highways department told The Times: "Construction of the north section of the Spalding western relief road was completed in October 2024. According to the department, £27.7 million has been set aside for the southern section of the road in the upcoming 2025-26 budget. Advertisement This is still much lower than the estimated cost of £50 to £60 million, leaving developers trying to find other sources of funding to make up the shortfall. They said: "The current estimated cost of building this section is between £50 and £60 million, which means external funding will be needed." The council said they are working closely with South Holland district council to "identify funding opportunities, including remaining in touch with Homes England." They added: "In addition, no funding has yet been allocated or secured for the middle sections of the relief road as these are intended to be built in the long term." Advertisement According to the project description, "the primary source of funding for both [southern and middle roads]" is likely to come in the form of contributions from developers. Their ongoing plans are outlined in the South East Lincolnshire Local Plan. Project bosses have estimated that the project will now take until 2030, with the financial issues causing significant setbacks. The completed northern section of the road has freed up land that could be used for 1,100 properties. Advertisement Parts of the project remain fenced off. We have reached out to Lincolnshire County Council for comment.
The Sun
5 days ago
- The Sun
Council slammed for £50million ‘bridge to nowhere' as officials admit they ‘can't afford to finish half-built road'
A COUNCIL has been slammed for building a "bridge to nowhere" that may never be finished. The £50 million bridge was part of a project started by Lincolnshire County Council in 2022 to ease traffic on the A16. 3 3 3 On Monday, May 2, officials admitted the project - known as the Spalding western relief road - might not be completed. It comes as the council are seeking up to £33 million in "external funding" in the hopes of finishing the development. They cited "turbulent" years for the shortage of cash, including rising costs during the pandemic, inflation, and problems caused by the national economy. This led the council to scrap nearly £28 million in funding in 2023 for their road projects. As a result, the relief road has been left with a "road to nowhere bridge." Residents and campaigners have been left frustrated by the lack of progress on the project. They have criticised it as a waste of taxpayer money, as aerial photos showed that the ongoing work had suddenly stopped. In a YouTube video about the project, Jon Jefferson who runs Auto Shenanigans, was critical of the "road to nowhere bridge." Commenters on the video shared their own frustrations with similarly unfinished projects across the UK. One wrote: "We have an unfinished roundabout with NO finish date for when it will ever open. Total p*** take of the tax-payers." Another sarcastically commented: "Awesome. A road with no traffic and rail lines with no trains." Others expressed their disappointment at the state of British infrastructure, writing: "It's got to the point I'll be dizzy with astonishment and suspicion when a road project success story comes along." Construction of the north section of the four-mile-long, five-section road was completed in October 2024 - including the bridge. This 0.6 mile stretch of road, was complete with a T-junction for later extension, and a bridge over a railway between Doncaster and Peterborough. The council's highways department told The Times: "Construction of the north section of the Spalding western relief road was completed in October 2024. According to the department, £27.7 million has been set aside for the southern section of the road in the upcoming 2025-26 budget. This is still much lower than the estimated cost of £50 to £60 million, leaving developers trying to find other sources of funding to make up the shortfall. They said: "The current estimated cost of building this section is between £50 and £60 million, which means external funding will be needed." The council said they are working closely with South Holland district council to "identify funding opportunities, including remaining in touch with Homes England." They added: "In addition, no funding has yet been allocated or secured for the middle sections of the relief road as these are intended to be built in the long term." According to the project description, "the primary source of funding for both [southern and middle roads]" is likely to come in the form of contributions from developers. Their ongoing plans are outlined in the South East Lincolnshire Local Plan. Project bosses have estimated that the project will now take until 2030, with the financial issues causing significant setbacks. The completed northern section of the road has freed up land that could be used for 1,100 properties. Parts of the project remain fenced off.
