Easton Lane and The Town Centre Plan - Trust Annual Report 1981
The Secretaries of State have confirmed the Inspector's recommendation that this road should not be built at present. The Inspector agreed with the Trust's argument that there is no compelling evidence to support the view that the present traffic situation in Winchester is critical, or that the Link Road can be justified on other grounds at this time. The Inspector also concluded that there might be a time in the future when the need for the Link Road could be better demonstrated, either through the effects of By-pass improvements or through major developments under the draft Town Centre Plan.
The result of this Inquiry is likely to have far reaching consequences for the preparation of the Town Centre Plan. The draft Plan was drawn up on the assumption of the Link Road and on the assumption that the M3 and its side roads would be constructed according to original published proposals. Neither assumption has been fulfilled, and in the words of the City's Director of Planning 'it is back to the drawing board for the Local Plan.'
The resulting delay is to be regretted, but the Trust greatly welcomes the opportunity presented for an open approach to the Town Centre Plan. It is now possible to start the process by addressing the question — what sort of town centre do we want? Having resolved that, we can then look at the subsidiary matter — what road pattern will best serve that aim ? It is the Trust's view that traffic and facilities for traffic are means to an end, but not ends in themselves.
The Trust welcomes the City's initiative in setting up a Steering Committee, and understands that this Committee will engage with interested parties, including the Trust, in a fundamental re-examination of the Plan's requirements. Hopefully, this will speed up the planning process, and will avoid some of the cruder and more expensive conflicts of the Public Inquiry .