Residents of Little Hadham crowded into a meeting of the Parish Council to hear the councillors discuss their response to the consultation on the route of the proposed Little Hadham bypass. They heard that almost threequarters of residents had opted for one of the northerly routes in a survey by consultants advising the Highways authority. (Click here to see map)

The most popular was the longest northerly route that was furthest from the village.  This route runs from the ‘Tesco roundabout’, goes north of Hadham Park, crosses the Ash valley and the Albury Road and joins the A120 near the turning to Albury End. It could incorporate a scheme to reduce the risk of flooding in the village.

Only around 19 per cent of people voted for either of the southern routes, which would involve a viaduct – one of them slicing through the Village Hall playing field. Residents made it clear they would have preferred a more ambitious bypass linking the M11 and the A10 although this was not one of the options.

The council endorsed the results of the survey and the view of the public meeting and voted in favour of Option 5. Councillors urged Highways to reduce traffic through the village once the bypass is built (2011 at the earliest); minimise impact on people living in the Albury Road area; and seek an interim solution to congestion on the current A120 and resulting rat-run through Bury Green and Westland Green. They also stressed that a bypass must not be used as an excuse for infill housing development, which would be strongly opposed by residents.