A rallying cry has been sounded for a bypass to be constructed around Skegness to alleviate traffic woes and lure more visitors. The chairman of Connected Coast, Chris Baron, voiced that holidaymakers frequenting the Lincolnshire coast have no desire to be ensnared in traffic snarls and a bypass could be the panacea. Furnished with more than £130m for areas like Skegness and Mablethorpe, Connected Coast is poised for action. However, Richard Davies, Lincolnshire County Council’s highways head, maintains a bypass remains an unviable financial endeavour, despite extensive investigation into the possibility. Squaring off on BBC Radio Lincolnshire’s ‘hotseat’, Mr Baron asserted: ‘The road networks are a problem and we’re going to lobby on that as much as possible.’ He maintained a bypass could streamline travel between resorts and enhance coastal circulation. Each year, Skegness draws in four million visitors and generates over £800m in economic benefits for the East Lindsey district, according to Connected Coast. But the council couldn’t foot the bill for a bypass alone, and it’s doubtful it would qualify for government backing, said Davies. The county council had earlier proposed a relief road around Skegness, a plan that was scrapped in 2023 due to insufficient funds. Mr Baron stresses the need to boost year-round appeal for Skegness beyond the summer’s ‘sun, sea and sand’. Candidates for the inaugural elected mayor of Greater Lincolnshire have added their two cents to the debate, with transport and housing being key issues in their purview. Nominations for mayor wrapped up on 2 April, with the election scheduled for 1 May.
This story was adapted by The Lincoln Post from original reporting by www.bbc.com.
