Dear Editor,
31st August – the final day of the meteorological summer – has now passed, yet the long-promised opening of the Reaseheath Bypass did not take place during August as previously indicated.
A new date for its opening has not been announced, and many local people, myself included, are increasingly concerned.
The bypass, required as part of the Section 106 conditions on the Kingsbourne development, has been in the works for four years.
It was originally scheduled to open in February 2022 but has faced repeated setbacks due to disputes over crossings, underpasses, and associated works. The latest delay has only added to local frustration.
While it is encouraging to see the installation of a new toucan crossing near the Reaseheath Roundabout, I am worried about the potential impact on traffic flow.
When activated, the crossing could cause vehicles to back up, blocking the roundabout and creating additional congestion.
This, in turn, may push some drivers through Acton and along Welshmans Lane as they seek to avoid delays.
Beyond congestion, there are other troubling concerns.
In places, the road appears alarmingly narrow – raising questions about how safely it will accommodate larger vehicles such as lorries.
Similarly, the cycleways and footpaths lack continuity, particularly at the Welshmans Lane end, where they seem to stop abruptly with no link to the A51 toward Chester.
This undermines the usefulness of the infrastructure and could present safety issues for both cyclists and pedestrians.
There is also the risk of Reaseheath Way becoming a rat run through Kingsbourne, as drivers look for a shortcut to Water Lode.
Without appropriate safeguards, this could cause disruption for residents of the estate itself.
Finally, I question whether the bypass will truly reduce journey times.
Extra distance along the A51, coupled with delays at the new Kingsbourne roundabout – which will serve thousands of new households – may outweigh any intended benefits.
I do hope the road ultimately proves a positive addition to Nantwich’s transport network. But with the delays continuing and these serious concerns still unresolved, many of us are left uneasy.
I urge those responsible to provide clear communication, realistic timescales, and to act swiftly if the bypass fails to deliver on its promises.
Regards
Jonathan White
Wistaston
The original plans for what is now the Kingsbourne Estate included the closure of Welshman’s Lane between the police houses and Henhull Hall, for exactly the reasons that now concern the writer of the above letter, but that was quietly dropped at some point.
There are occasional crashes at the tight bends all along the lane, but thankfully these seem generally to be damage-only. We’ll see whether or not that changes once the bypass is open.
Welshmans Lane is already used as a rat run.
Because it is a derestricted country lane drivers can “legitimately” drive at high speeds along a lane that has several blind bends and multiple entrances, public rights of way, and is single track at one point.
The speed limit needs to be reduced significantly to deter rat run use once the link road has opened. The sooner the better.