Britain's Abandoned Roads - Episode 10

Britain's Abandoned Roads - Episode 10 - A4500 Northampton

Рет қаралды 39,343

2 жыл бұрын

#abandoned #roads #Northampton
They built it.. but no one came. The Sandy Lane relief road in Northamptonshire is a road that's sat abandoned for nearly 14 years. So far a tragic waste due to poor decisions... but is life soon to begin finally.. let's take a look.
Welcome to Britain's Abandoned Roads. In this series, I go out to explore some of the UKs abandoned or disused roads. Old roads in the woods, motorway junctions or forgotten slip roads, this series has it all! Join me as I travel all over the country seeking out forgotten and abandoned infrastructure.
Be sure to follow us on twitter - @JonShenanigans

Пікірлер: 99

@Scrubworks 2 жыл бұрын

This would make a perfect car meet location if you could persuade the council to give access. Plenty of room, away from houses and anyone else. Maybe they could turn the street lights on.

@AutoShenanigans 2 жыл бұрын

It would be great. One of the streetlights was on... only one though... I bet that's burned through some cash over the years.

@8skellerns 2 жыл бұрын

@@AutoShenanigansAs street light columns and most street furniture isn't metered, it may have had a free run all this time, just no one been to pull the fuse! No doubt when this road is finished, all the columns will be boring LED ones, if the road is even lit in these eco times!

@AutoShenanigans 2 жыл бұрын

@@8skellerns Waste aside.. incredible that no one pays for it! How can I set my house up like that... :D

@derekmarshall6332 2 жыл бұрын

All local authorities have to declare their assets to the power companies, as Sam said its unmetered (although half hourly readings is starting to change that). So authority says I have 25 streetlamps with. bulb type x, and the power company has an agreed tarriff for that item and bills. I’m involved in this for my authorities traffic signals. I’m guessing that as this road has not been adopted, and the original developer long gone, that the power company is footing the bill without knowing, as these lamps won’t exist on the Northants County Council inventory. The traffic signals at the end where is meets the A4500 will be being declared, as the junction on the main road will have been adopted/handed over. So unless the authority are very good with their signal inventory, the opposite may apply her3, and the traffic signals that are not in use and bagged over might actually be being paid for as I expect the complete junction is being declared. Bit of swings and roundabouts, so probably averages out for the power companies nationwide.

@jamesgriffiths3057 2 жыл бұрын

@@derekmarshall6332 yes Derek my mate worked for a council and they do pay for electric for street lighting. and its an eye watering amount of money.

@itztoa5t483 2 жыл бұрын

This is a very interesting place, I've walked down here a couple of times. Its cool to get some context on why it's there

@mrsapplez2007 2 жыл бұрын

I've been there too

@simocreations 2 жыл бұрын

I’m seriously getting addicted to this channel!!

@mybookfacetube 3 ай бұрын

Yeah, likewise.

@derekstuart5234 2 жыл бұрын

This road is (under current plans) to form part of a semi circular road that will run across the back of Duston, Kingsthorpe and I think end up somewhere out on the Kettering Road. It is a mix of private and public enterprises, including Highways Agency, (local) Highways, Northampton Borough Council and Northants County Council- the latter two there no longer existing having been reformed into West Northants Council.

@CORNERofTECH Жыл бұрын

When will it start and finish?

@alexanderwooldridgesmith6629 Жыл бұрын

Ah, Northants County Council, so useless the goverment got rid of it! Only for the local numpties to vote all the uselss bunch back in to run West Northants Council. Repeat until hell freezes over.

@blueballanimations 2 ай бұрын

i don’t know but it started in June 2023

@JMH7506 2 жыл бұрын

It was built to connect up to the new sandy lane and remove the two roundabouts at the top on Port Road. The old Heygates land is now being built on and due to the sheer number of houses being built they’ve got to complete the road at some point to get rid of those two daft roundabouts surely?

@mattholland0202 2 жыл бұрын

I live in the next estate to this road. Bizarrely, in the latest house building proposal, the developer has said they're not going to link the road up to Sandy Lane! They seem to imply that it will still remain a dead end of some kind, with some other links popping out via smaller streets in the new development.

@darshitcumdeepgupta6998 2 жыл бұрын

Love this series as well as the motorway series. keep going. appreciate the effort!

@AutoShenanigans 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching, appreciate it :)

@craighobbs3708 2 жыл бұрын

There is an other abandoned road in Northampton, near the River Nene.. it was the old Bedford Road (A428) but abandoned when they realigned the A428 and A45. It’s right behind the hotel near the rafting centre towards the river: you can still see cats eyes and the tree alignment

@christophersidaway 2 жыл бұрын

is this visible on google earth? cant seem to find it?

@pauldonneky9501 2 жыл бұрын

Building of houses has started up the field from this road, so we may just start to see some action here soon,

@Ralnon 2 жыл бұрын

It wasn't that long ago it was still lit at night!

@mark6bat Жыл бұрын

They are finally starting work on this in the next few weeks. Of course the intersection needs redoing

@scottishcarenthusiastsandtrain 2 жыл бұрын

Another excellent episode, to think of all these abandoned roads and the costs involved....

@AutoShenanigans 2 жыл бұрын

It's madness, especially as Northampton council went bust not too long ago. Oops!

@danimayb 2 жыл бұрын

@@AutoShenanigans I mean, A major council going bust in a wealthy highly industrialised well connected county? Yep, Stuff like this really happens and regular in good old blighty! As well as billions of notes thrown away through bad management (in all public and private sectors). This country is laughable, Sad, And in a much poorer state than the official stats and the government on the world stage portray. This country has always been about the elite, From the empire days to this day. I look at America and can see why the revolution happened 😂 No wonder Brits carry an attitude like no other country.

@janceret353 2 жыл бұрын

When I used to live in Northampton, I would always pass this road on the way to the M1. Never thought you would come to Northampton! But sadly by the time you filmed this, I am in Poland, my home country.

@Scrubworks 2 жыл бұрын

Interesting how there's a little bit of the road right at the top that's cut off from the rest of it. I presume that they must have cleared the treeline there to build the road, and when the road then didn't happen, they just reinstated the treeline straight over the top of it.

@AutoShenanigans 2 жыл бұрын

It's odd... not sure why they'd do that.

@derekmarshall6332 Ай бұрын

Latest update, the new section of road has been built right up to the other side of the hedge from where this road stopped. Apparrently they are to be linked and opened before Christmas. But I’m hearing that the reason that bit hasn’t been built is because someone else owns that few feet of trees!

@brucedanton3669 Жыл бұрын

I presume in a way you could blame if that is the word the councils here for leaving this as it is. As the comment below says, there is now one council there, West Northamptonshire which hopefully will give better services from what I have read than the ones before. We will see I guess too of course I wonder in time too?

@mrsapplez2007 2 жыл бұрын

The joys of Norfhaaamtun

@alexanderwooldridgesmith6629 Жыл бұрын

Yep, went past on Sunday and it's still not used.

@ollyshighlightreel6530 2 жыл бұрын

Micheal Faraday Avenue in Rochdale is another one of those types of roads... Was built as an extention to Kingsway Business park, was built 3/4's the way around and then suddenly stopped. There's a Metrolink stop there which serves JD Warehouse and the surrounding area but most of it is just fields...

@glenjones6980 2 жыл бұрын

I lived in Wellingborough from 1996 and shortly after I arrived the Northampton floods hit, I worked for a few transport companies in the area and did quite a bit of work out of Swan Valley as well as the other estates in Northampton, Wellingborough, Kettering and Corby. Left in 2005 but had the odd trip back afterwards, there's always talk of more industrial estates/freight traffic in the area with the M1 and A14 being close by. Bits here and there to deal with bottlenecks that just shove the problem somewhere else down the line seemed common yet the big schemes that would take the heavy traffic away from the already busy routes never seem to materialise as shown in this example.

@alexanderguesthistorical7842 2 жыл бұрын

RAAACE TRAAACK!!!

@oddities-whatnot 2 жыл бұрын

Slightly different but on the outskirts of Blackburn many years ago, two office blocks were constructed just off the M65 near Blackburn Services. They remained empty for years, nobody ever moved in, they fell into disrepair, got vandalised and eventually got knocked down and the site cleared. Someone lost a lot of money there I think.

@harrygoswell7089 2 жыл бұрын

You can see my house in this video haha, I walk down this road very regularly

@TheTimTri Жыл бұрын

I actually just saw this road in a random satellite image and immediately remembered your video! 😅

@derekmarshall6332 7 ай бұрын

Google is starting to shiw new satellite photos of here, looks like its going to continue straight up aways through the latest new housing

@andrewmanning3639 2 жыл бұрын

I grew up in Harpole right next to there and I always wondered when they were going to finish building that when we drive past to visit family! Really interesting series, thanks :)

@robbutterill1426 2 жыл бұрын

remember driving past this and my dads mate joked when he said they were building a new st crispins😂

@mrsapplez2007 2 жыл бұрын

Hahahaha the state of parts of Upton now

@chriswilson1853 2 жыл бұрын

I've lived in Northampton for over 20 years and I never knew this existed.

@mrsapplez2007 2 жыл бұрын

Mate, numpton is a strange old place

@rogercantwell3622 Жыл бұрын

There's a rather creepy abandoned road near the Holiday Inn on the A428, still with some tarmac and a line of trees. It heads to the River Nene and just stops. Seems to be where the A5095 used to come down from Abington, but the bridge must have been demolished when the Nene Valley Way was built as part of the New Town expansion. Can't find any photos of the old bridge.

@davidsirett5560 2 жыл бұрын

they either did not install the visirail guard rail or the panels have been unbolted and carted off to the scrap yard.

@dange65 Жыл бұрын

Just looking on google maps and the road is still the same I remember it cause that’s where I got stuck in the snow when I used to deliver in the artic class one lorry

@AndrewG1989 2 жыл бұрын

I bet that road was built when Northampton Council was in so much debt. Goes to show how poorly maintained it looks. Unless it’s now been improved with traffic using it. And as part of new development with new homes being built on.

@chrisg1234fly 2 жыл бұрын

Do the street lights come on at night?

@xr6lad 2 жыл бұрын

Despite being abandoned there does appear to be some basic maintenance. For example someone is mowing and the road looks clean although the gutters have soil build up. Do the lights go on at night?

@AutoShenanigans 2 жыл бұрын

Agreed, I think the council look after it on occasion. One of the streetlights is on, the rest aren't.

@markstarmer3677 2 жыл бұрын

The road is to the West of Northampton, not East as stated in your opening sentence.

@Zacoota Жыл бұрын

There is a sign that says security dogs patrol this are or something.. never dared to walk inside. Maybe it's just a deterrent.. but I didn't want to risk it!

@michaeledwards427 2 жыл бұрын

Typically it's been kept lit the entire time. There's a very derelict pub on the A5 near Atherstone, warwickshire, that the last time I went past it at night still had timer lights on. Either that or it's a ghost..............??

@AutoShenanigans 2 жыл бұрын

I wonder who pays the bill in these situations!?

@robbutterill1426 2 жыл бұрын

michael is that the Bull? near the mancetter/carlyon rd estate? apparently it was an insurance job - used to go there loads years ago, was always a really good pub with a massive passing trade, no idea why you’d give that up

@michaeledwards427 2 жыл бұрын

@@robbutterill1426 Yes I'm sure that's the one. It looks even more knackered now than it was before. Although I'm not local and I've never been able to go in, it's a real shame when pubs close.

@mattblundell2406 2 жыл бұрын

Sooooo, building has started, to the west of the road, and farther to the north as well, soon to link Harpole and St Crispins, whoopee....

@GeorgeHampl 2 жыл бұрын

Not sure if the stabiliser you use is build in your camera or software but it makes my eyes hurt

@AutoShenanigans 2 жыл бұрын

Yes, the software stabiliser is a bit harsh due to my poor filming efforts. Working on it :)

@MrGreatplum Жыл бұрын

And it still sits empty 🤦‍♂️ surprised it’s not been used for a dumping ground although looking on Google, it’s quite visible!

@AutoShenanigans Жыл бұрын

It's difficult to get a flat bed in. I heard they were going to finally open the road as part of housing developments.. but it seems not!

@RUBBER_BULLET 26 күн бұрын

They were complaining that they didn't have a busy road next door?

@minibus9 2 жыл бұрын

cool

@AutoShenanigans 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching!

@notrut Жыл бұрын

A dead road network of Northampton from 2008/9 ... just before Gordon Brown was ousted.

@Jackster4505 Жыл бұрын

Can see the add now. FOR SALE: One road and roundabout with junctions....never been raced complete with planning permission for 1900 houses or would make a great drive way for one huge mansion!

@AutoShenanigans Жыл бұрын

I'd love it if they offered unused roads out for sale!

@suzieb8366 Жыл бұрын

What a waste of money!

@makemovieordie2154 Жыл бұрын

Hi John. I wanted to ask if there is access for cars? I am shooting a shot film and I need a empty road to this one ☝️. Please if you can let me know. I need ASAP. Thanks and good luck.

@AutoShenanigans Жыл бұрын

I'm sure if you speak to the council they'll grant access for a cost. Otherwise.. no.

@TrainDriverSparky 2 жыл бұрын

How are abandoned roads like this handled on sat-nav map data? Are they shown?

@AutoShenanigans 2 жыл бұрын

A lot of the time, no, they don't show up as they've never been officially confirmed/opened as roads.

@TrainDriverSparky 2 жыл бұрын

@@AutoShenanigans Thanks. Around 20 years ago before the it opened, the M6 Toll road was shown as a black line on the Navteq system in my parents car. Although it was shown, the system didn't recognise it as road that could be used for navigation guidance.

@YellowPinkie 4 ай бұрын

This has a new chapter. It looks like the Sandy Lane Relief Road will soon be completed. This is not a positive as Sandy Lane itself has been closed for well over a year and there is no confirmed date for opening this new link. But wait! Once this is connected, the council have decided that they cannot be without a road to nowhere, so have spent millions building a new eyesore, causing huge disruption and habitat loss from meadow to ugly attenuation ponds. Please come and review the Northampton North-West Relief Road, due to be completed in 2024. Note 'completed', not 'opened'... Thing is I love progress and roadbuilding. This council is unable to do either.

@Grahambuilder 2 жыл бұрын

I drive past that every day

@AutoShenanigans 2 жыл бұрын

I assume there's no change still? Thanks for watching!

@Grahambuilder 2 жыл бұрын

@@AutoShenanigans No nothings changed. I also drive past it every time I go to rehearsals with your father.....😉

@nicholasthornton4195 Жыл бұрын

This road will ecome a new road to Dustin whe they mve further down hll with the new houss

@philleeson7835 2 жыл бұрын

It stopped short due to the land owner would not sell the land( Lord Spencer)

@leopaddy3535 2 жыл бұрын

I commend Earl Spencer,all the planners do is tarmac green fields perpetually.Just destroying any countryside.Absolutely thrilled that petrol is going to become unaffordable BCOS despite the inconvenience of not having a car they are an absolute curse

@chasevans7171 2 жыл бұрын

@@leopaddy3535 bit hypocritical of earl spencer seeing as how he has a london mainline railway station in his backyard serving him and just about nobody else in the middle of nowhere. As for the road, I'm sure they'd build a concrete motorway flyover for his duck pond so as not to spoil the wildlife. P.S. "thrilled" is a word I associate with being flat out in a 300+ horsepower petrol rear wheel drive car, laying clouds of tyre smoke. Only on race tracks and unfinished roads obviously.

@mrglide7078 2 жыл бұрын

@@leopaddy3535 So because you don't own a car, no one else should either. Righto

@leopaddy3535 2 жыл бұрын

@@mrglide7078 I do drive a car but I am having to reduce that very much because of the cost.As inconvenient as it is I still think less tarmac and huge estates built on green fields would be worth it