Sir Edward Leigh, the Conservative Member of Parliament for Gainsborough, has secured a meeting with a Transport minister to secure the future of Hawthorn Road. John Hayes MP, the Minister of State with responsibility for roads, has agreed to meet with Sir Edward to discuss the road, which is slated to be permanently closed to motor vehicles with the construction of the Lincoln Eastern Bypass.

“As a recent road accident has proved, it is vital that vehicular access on Hawthorn Road be maintained,” the MP of thirty years’ experience asserted. “I’m very pleased that my Conservative colleague John Hayes, the Minister of State for Transport, has agreed to meet with me and other stakeholders to hear the case for Hawthorn Road being kept open.”

“The Lincoln Eastern Bypass will be great for the area, and will bring immeasurable benefits, but you can’t just go closing roads willy-nilly in order to build it. The authorities have failed to demonstrate sufficient rationale for cutting the road in two, and opposition to their plan amongst local people is both strong and deep. Early plans for the Bypass included a road bridge for Hawthorn Road so I’m hopeful we can persuade the powers that be to go back to Plan A.”