The Member of Parliament for Burton and Uttoxeter, Kate Kniveton has hailed “an exciting milestone” for the project to secure a third river crossing along the River Trent at Walton following significant progress to make the proposed new bridge a reality.
For too long, the need for a new bridge and bypass to replace the old Bailey Bridge at Walton has been a pressing issue for Burton residents, which Kate Kniveton MP has been actively fighting for since her election.
In collaboration with neighbouring Conservative MP for South Derbyshire, Heather Wheeler, Ms Kniveton has been actively engaged in discussions with local authorities on both sides of the river, as well as Countryside Properties, the developers responsible for this crucial project as part of their development in Drakelow.
One of the major hurdles to delivery has been concerns about potential flooding due to the original designs of the replacement bridge. However, recent updates from Countryside Properties confirm the new designs for the bridge address the flooding concerns previously raised.
Countryside Properties is now preparing to submit their planning application pack, aiming to secure approvals from both councils. If all goes according to plan, construction could commence this summer, with the bypass open for public use by late 2025.
Commenting, Kate Kniveton MP said:
“For too long we in Burton have been needing a third river crossing to help ease congestion in the heart of the town. Having worked with Heather Wheeler, our local councils and the developers, I am pleased to say we have now reached an exciting milestone for this project. This is fantastic news for our communities and a significant step forward in improving local infrastructure and connectivity.
“I want to extend my thanks to all residents for your patience and support throughout this process, and I assure you that I'll continue to keep you updated as we make further progress.”
South Derbyshire MP, Heather Wheeler OBE, added:
“It’s great to be working with Kate on this Bridge which links our constituencies and is an important route for both the people of South Derbyshire and Burton & Uttoxeter.
“We really believe that now there has been huge progress between the developer and all Local councils with consistent pressure from both Kate & I. We now are pushing for the new planning permission to be expedited and to get spades in the ground.”
