Blueprint for town’s ‘vital’ link road scheme set to be unveiled

Business leaders and air travellers have been calling for progress on the so-called Finningley and Rossington Regeneration Route scheme, otherwise known as FARRRS, since the airport opened in 2005.

Last year, Doncaster Council was successful in bidding for £18m for the road project from the Government’s Regional Growth Fund, and detailed blueprints have now been drawn up by authority planners.

The project still requires planning permission, and an application is expected to be lodged by highways officers in spring 2012, with construction work scheduled to begin as soon as approval is given.

Council bosses said the new road, which will begin at junction three of the M18 and pass south-east through agricultural land via the village of Rossington, would be a “major infrastructure improvement”.

The scheme will link the site of a so-called inland port which is planned for Rossington with the motorway network and eleiminate the need for airport travellers to drive through Doncaster’s suburbs.

Peter Davies, Mayor of Doncaster, urged people to examine the plans and said the project was vital to the future of the town, branded as “struggling” by think tank Centre for Cities earlier this week.

Mr Davies said: “FARRRS is more than a new link road. It is a major improvement to Doncaster’s infrastructure with the potential to create thousands of new jobs and drive economic growth in the town and across the region.

“Doncaster benefits from a prime location and superb transport links that put the town within touching distance of all corners of the UK and overseas.

“FARRRS will improve these links and enhance our reputation as the logistics capital of the north.

“I urge people to attend one of the council’s consultation events so they can find out how they and their town can benefit from FARRRS.”

The consultation meetings will be held at Holmescarr Community Centre in Rossington between 10am and 1pm on Friday February 3 and at Cantley Library between 2pm and 6pm the same day.

Shoppers at Asda in Bawtry Road, Doncaster, will then be able to examine the plans on Saturday, February 4, where drawings will be on display between 10am and 8pm.

Doncaster Council said it was hoped that the consultation responses would help support the planning application and demonstrate the level of support among the public.

A spokesman from the authority’s development department said: “FARRRS will provide the required infrastructure for a number of significant private sector developments to start in Rossington and at the airport.

“A dual carriageway will lead from the M18 towards Rossington and support the Inland Port, the link will continue as a single carriageway to the A638 at Parrot’s Corner.

“A direct connection will also be provided into Rossington. The 4km stretch of road will improve access and improve journey times for people travelling to and from this area and the airport.

“Government funding together with contributions from private sector developers and the council will help deliver the scheme.”

FARRRS will link with the White Rose Way road scheme in Doncaster which runs north from junction three of the M18, towards Doncaster town centre.

Work is currently underway, but construction of a new bridge on the route has been delayed by bad weather.

Further information about FARRRS is also available at www.doncaster.gov.uk/FARRRS.

[email protected]