Plans for a new roundabout on busy main road near Chesterfield

Derbyshire County Council is seeking planning permission for the construction of a new roundabout and ‘spine road’ off the A61 Derby Road at Nottingham Drive, Wingerworth.

The new road will provide access to the southern half of the Avenue development – a large site that includes the former Avenue Coking Works – and improve access to the A61 from existing properties to the south of Mill Lane.

The project, known as Avenue Southern Access (ASA), would also involve the closure of the existing junction of Mill Lane with the A61 and minor changes to the junction between Nottingham Drive and the A61. A Derbyshire County Council spokesman said: “This roundabout and a new road just off the A61 will serve The Avenue, in Wingerworth, a major new housing and business development on the former Avenue Coking Works site.

“Following consultation, detailed plans for the roundabout have now been drawn up and are awaiting planning approval from North East Derbyshire District Council. The roundabout is designed to improve the existing transport routes onto the A61 for local residents and businesses.”

According to planning documents, the project, aims to:

- Provide access to the proposed Taylor Wimpey housing development (247 dwellings) to the north of the ASA;

- Provide access to future developments on the remainder of the Avenue Area;

- Provide amore effective junction between the A61, Mill Lane and Nottingham Drive.

MP for North East Derbyshire, Lee Rowley, said: “We do need to look at how the Derby Road can work better and this roundabout might be a small step forward in this regard if done properly. The much bigger issue of too many cars and too much congestion, though, is a much longer term challenge. I’m going to continue to press for solutions to the wider problem.”