Britain's Abandoned Roads - Episode 3 - Northern Orbital Road Corby Northamptonshire

[@tomduff89]

Some see a disused road and an eye sore, I see a free drag strip

[@AutoShenanigans]

It'd be pretty decent for a race!

[@buffalobill9958]

Good luck accessing it, they have it all blocked off

[@tomduff89]

@@buffalobill9958 I guy can dream. Only needs a somthing big to pull the bollards out the way....or a jackhammer to destroy them 😂

[@Peabody10]

@@buffalobill9958 tipical not allowed to have any fun.☹️

[@suzyqualcast6269]

You mayt well have an answer there !! 😉

[@craighobbs3708]

The countryside and villages near Corby are actually outstanding.

[@scudger99]

The dogging fraternity seem to like it.

[@nervo6321]

Yes Rockingham and Collyweston beautiful villages

[@lickyagyalcuz]

Absolutely. Walk my dog regularly around the fields off the 427 between Benefield and Oundle. Always feel that the surrounding villages must be terrified of Corby’s expansions. Weldon is more Corby housing estate than village now.

[@eighteenfiftynine]

You can see the rot set in where the putrid cesspool has touched the edge of once beautiful villages. There's a tide mark of filth around the place, and it doesn't seem to matter what they do, it's always absolutely awful!

[@gavmusic]

Corby is the place that just keeps giving when it comes to bleak treats. I'm loving these videos.

[@stuartpope77]

I live in corby and didn't even know this road existed 😳

[@rayhitchman4741]

It's from Morrisons RDC if memory serves me right

[@manlu_gaming]

@@rayhitchman4741 yep, just near RS components

[@acb6256]

I don't know why you are all blaming the council. This is a private sector built road built by an overambitious builder as part of their planning permission for a huge housing development. On completion it would have been handed over to the council. The builder went bust part way, which is where we come in to pay to eventually finish it off. Remember business is all about privatising profits and socialising losses.

[@eighteenfiftynine]

Perhaps because they gave the permission to build the thing in the first place? The reason the private sector tries to pass on their losses to the public sector is that they are at least motivated by profit. Unfortunately, the public sector tends to just waste money because it can. Consider, for instance, a certain county council (with a legendary reputation for completely buggering up large-scale projects) that warehoused insane numbers of road cones that they knew would never be used, simply because the department needed to spend their budget so that it wasn't reduced the following year. Funnily enough, they went bust.

[@nickhill2223]

Still not finished, Corby Borough Council has now been incorporated into the 'new' North Northamptonshire Council, who, whilst no-one in their wildest dreams thought possible), seem even more inept then the Councils it replaced. Interesting point for those who don't know, Rockingham Motor Speedway was actually in the former District of East Northamptonshire, so Corby Council had little influence, they could only make their views known to East Northants Council.....

[@BeardmanOnline]

Your videos are so underrated. I can imagine how much time it takes to put the story together. You deserve hundreds of thousands of subscribers!

[@brucedanton3669]

Thank you for this of course!!

[@McRocket]

You have this way of speaking that is GREAT for KZbin, imho. You come across as intelligent, a bit edgy/cool, humorous, confident...yet easy going. Sorry, I cannot explain it more concisely. ☮

[@adamchristini2101]

This road is no longer abandoned - its having a bit of a New Year New Me moment. Someone has bought the land to store more cars (between this road and the Speedway) so the road is now open and used during the day, presumably for construction vehicles. Update the vid with a visit Jon!

[@drankfrebin]

This a cracking channel, this man is going places. Thank you

[@scudger99]

Going to Corby ?

[@drankfrebin]

@@scudger99 oh god no, unless he wants an awful heroin addiction and itchy bits

[@colinellis2051]

Corby isn't as bad as it's made out to be. There are a lot of very friendly people and just like every other town and city there are those that let the place down and I'm not just talking about Northamptonshire council. The roads have recently starting to be repaired which is good because trust me they are in dire need of it, the town centre isn't nearly as grubby as it once was and there are warehouses going up all over the place which granted aren't the easiest on the eye but they do create jobs.

[@JoshuaNicoll]

The impression I got was that it was the council that regularly fucks up, but he didn't say much about the town itself, only it had leadership that was a laughing stock. It soun ds like maybe someone new was brought in to do a proper job at running the place.

[@eighteenfiftynine]

I've not been for some years now, but my fondest memories of the town are: the drug dealer that on a quiet evening outside a quiet pub offered to sell my mate and I various substances until in desperation he made an embarrassing (and failed) attempt to rob us, the girl on the bus that struck up conversation with me and then for some reason gave a full confession about stabbing someone outside a local bar, or best of all, the absolute supermodel that for some reason kept looking over at me on the bus - it took a while for the penny to drop, but it was because literally everyone else looked like an extra from Shaun Of The Dead.

[@joelaw728]

I couldn't live there, but the industry, car related or otherwise is booming. Good transport links, cheap industrial rates and plenty of local workers have really created a bustling industrial hub. The steel works is still going strong, admittedly nothing like it once was but that's probably for the best. Going there is a bit like entering a ghost town, but there's big changes happening.😊

[@mikeoglen6848]

Never knew we had abandoned roads in England...I'm sure a New Town of 200 000 will grow around it soon.

[@jaybluff281]

From the description, I thought it was going to be a major bypass or dual carriageway, but it's just a kilometre stretch of unused access road in the middle of an industrial estate.

[@MassiveChetBakerFan]

Yes, he somewhat overegged it.

[@ukroadtrips2102]

I'm intrigued to see if the streetlights work at night! Great video as always Jon!

[@AutoShenanigans]

I wasn't. but I am now... :D I shall report back in due course. Thanks for watching mate!

[@8skellerns]

If you watch the video closely you can see the missing cover on a lampost and the fuse missing.

[@AutoShenanigans]

@@8skellerns Just need us a fuse then? This is probably not something I should be playing with :D

[@8skellerns]

@@AutoShenanigans Yeah, but very dangerous as the fuse in-line before the column is often at the sub station, you will be fried to a crisp and that fuse wouldnt care, as they are slow blow and need one hell of a short circuit to blow one! The main fuse in the column is the same as the one next to your home electricity meter, and is DNO owned, and sealed, illegal to tamper with it!

[@AutoShenanigans]

@@8skellerns Duly noted :D

[@paulychilds]

Man, my folks live like a mile or two away from there and I never even knew this road existed! I see it now on satellite photos. What a waste! Exploring time, next time I visit! The racetrack was a massive missed opportunity. What were they thinking?

[@AutoShenanigans]

Its not a bad walk and explore if that's your kind of thing. A real shame about Rockingham Race Circuit but it was destined for failure from the moment it opened :( We've a new series coming soon that will feature Rockingham ;)

[@melaniejane7036]

I live in Corby and I didn't know it existed. 💯% truth regarding Corrupt Corby Council thieving off is taxpayers though

[@robertbaxter4021]

I like driving down the A1. You can see quite a bit of the old road here and there overgrown.

[@dweatherley]

I'm really enjoying these videos, keep it up!

[@AutoShenanigans]

Thanks for watching!

[@RichieRouge206]

Madness to see this! Great video John

[@petrolhead28]

Love these short videos. And to think top gear lampoon's f ups in Europe. They could have stayed home

[@andykilvington1651]

Your dry wit and sense of humour never fail to make me laugh. Another great vid - of such a lovely place (not).

[@AutoShenanigans]

Could be worse. Bradford...

[@nealgreen8188]

@@AutoShenanigans Coalville…

[@lukey666lukey]

great videos, really hope this channel grows. I never knew i wanted to learn more about Britains roads un till now

[@Kelastris]

These could be converted into a pretty good tramway if the demand was there for a system to connect up the residential areas in the southeast to the industrial and commercial zones to the west

[@philtowle4683]

Great film set or practice area for emergency services

[@typhoon2827]

Reckon there were some well-stuffed brown envelopes moved around between council officials and developers at some point.

[@bjarulez]

I live just up the road in Kettering, I didn't even know about that road!

[@andrewmanning3639]

In fairness, Rockingham Speedway is used as EVEN MORE car storage now! So not a total waste!! :S

[@donalddodson7365]

Great! Another fantastic series about planning, pavement and pay offs. Thank you, Jon.😂 😊

[@maj0072]

Just found and watched this fantastic video. Corby now has the second largest open space warehouse in Europe. Owned and operated by iforce. Just off Geddington Road.

[@AutoShenanigans]

Ahh Corby.. I love the place.

[@Demun1649]

What a story! England, the home of past glories, cannot even design and build a bypass, and Rockingham Raceway is another prime example on the judgement of English planners. Built based on the assumption that the Britsi will flock to an American style raceway with all the lightweoght frippery that goes along with that. Mind you, it makes a great place to store the cars, built in Britain, that people don't want to buy. Double whammy.

[@wilting_alocasia]

Used to go past this on our way to Gretton without even knowing it was there!

[@brucedanton3669]

The council there has changed in the last few years. It is now a unitary council-which really gives better services somehow than before where there were two different ones in one area. But I wonder if that has altered anything though?

[@AnthonyThomas_Ant]

A road: meh. An abandoned road: 🤗. Subscribed.

[@MrSmurfkilla]

That road was open at one point. It's for track access as the only other road in is the main entrance. Plus the race teams coming in from that road made it easier as the tunnel is on that side, along with the gated road at the end of the video. The reason the track closed was bad management and a massive lack of advertising,

[@jdpower2660]

Nope, it closed cos the developers building Priors Hall went bust, and also owned the Speedway. The track was actually (finally) making money when the owners went bust.

[@melaniejane7036]

@@jdpower2660 Agree, the track was doing brilliantly back in the day

[@charleswake44]

I'm surprised that the council don't rent it out for filming or emergency services training

[@AndrewMartinIsHere]

Careful, you’ll Wake up as head of their council with comments like that 🤣

[@AlexanderWright1]

By the sounds of it, Corby could do a lot worse.

[@CycolacFan]

There’s one near Bristol where they do exactly that, used to film motorway pile ups for Casualty etc.

[@acb6256]

Maybe its not the council's road to rent out.

[@ME4503]

Well bugger me (don't really), I've lived here most of my life and didn't even realise this existed.

[@melaniejane7036]

Same here, lived here all my life and didn't know this existed

[@scudger99]

I've pissed up against those concrete blocks at 1:47.

[@stephenstephen5621]

Was not aware of this well concieved council plan in Corby but it does explain why we are now under north Northampton council tax zone paying extra but I thought that was for the 6 million giveing to the Italian family for sixfields who said thank you and moved to there mansion in Italy

[@amichaelthomas83]

Would make a great post apocalyptic film set.. why can't we build homes here and not on beautiful unspoilt countryside.

[@IAmConorr]

Run past this every morning, very creepy in the darkness of winter. Would be great if they did open it, would cut my drive time to play football from 15 minutes, to 13 minutes…

[@sirmeowthelibrarycat]

🥴 Such an expensive two minutes . . . 😜

[@timboyle3114]

WOW - Thats impressive how much they F'ed up there - Almost Russian Oligarch levels of incompetance and corruption!

[@christopherkelly283]

Why can't they open these roads for learner drivers who are a bit nervous on th normal busy road it would be of a great help to them and the instructors

[@chas1759]

Because the boy racers would get on it and fuck things up.

[@kenstevens5065]

Too simple and too easy for bureaucracy to get in the way. I used to live in Lincolnshire where many of us learn't to drive on old airfields passing our tests first time. Off road driving facilities are a great help.

[@tattylashes1664]

Just go there

[@Dan23_7]

I swear I’ve delivered on that industrial estate, obviously you didn’t show it but I remember my shat nav showing me a way off it and I swear it was those gates ahead of me (I live near Preston lancs and deliver nationwide) Drag strip there begging to be used 😁

[@eddjcaine]

Looks like a great place to go cycling :)

[@AndrewMartinIsHere]

I know this area, and was excited when they seemed to be pumping money into the town, but now it’s like a desolate wasteland. Hopefully, one day, a council with a brain and a budget, will get some of this sorted for the sake of Corby.

[@tasty_fish]

A disused race track next to a disused road in a disused town

[@raymondo162]

why don't they open it up for the tuned-saxo-with-a-drainpipe-exhaust brigade??

[@derekmarshall6332]

Following on from watching this video, and prevously not knowing this existed, I took a run over on my motorbike today and rode down from the roundabout to the bridge, because I could 🤣. Of course, that meant I had to ride the wrong way back up the dual carriageway to get back to the roundabout. 🙄😂

[@AutoShenanigans]

What do you reckon... could we set up a ramp and jump the blockage for access to the longer stretch? :D

[@derekmarshall6332]

@@AutoShenanigans Distinctly possible 😂 Since you were there, a couple of the blocks in the blockade have been shoved off the top, so its a bit smaller on one side now!

[@AutoShenanigans]

@@derekmarshall6332 I noticed that.. we were back that way a coupla weeks ago to make the Rockingham vid.

[@derekmarshall6332]

@@AutoShenanigans Did you do the other half on foot ? Looks pretty easy to get to

[@AutoShenanigans]

@@derekmarshall6332 Yes that's right, a simple hop skip and a jump and I was right over.

[@tobymcnicol922]

Surely it could be the basis for some pre-post-apocalypse visitor attraction? Probably got about 18months lead time if it hasn't melted after last week.... Scarfolk Council for the feasibility study.

[@peepiepo]

I assumed the thumbnail must be clickbait. The real thing is even more staggering

[@ricd2821]

Ideal for running

[@BadgerUKvideo]

I was half expecting you to mention the proclivities for which the locals were famous. Probably not the best subject matter for a youtube video though.

[@Elmantukas]

That intro gave me a good laugh 😃 i reckon the council should just give up and open it up to the great youth, coah just imagine the one liter corsas and fiestas ripping up that road.

[@ClydebridgeStation]

And folks, don't think it's us brits that just makes unopened stuff; in Belgium, in one city, they built a branch off a metro line, for a new metro line. Built the stations, laid the track, and it's still not opened, some 40 years since!

[@acb6256]

Although that situation is about to change. I wonder if they will charge 1980s fares?

[@kjriwoutube]

tim travler did a video on that

[@HimWitDaHair98]

It deeply saddens me that 2 great motoring assets are just let rot instead of being developed.

[@danimayb]

Welcome to the UK.. Or more specifically England being the worst by far at these sort of shenanigans.

[@MrBreadman1966]

A certain well known bakery company is currently looking for a new site in and around the Corby area. If the road is completed its possible they could rent or build the in that area.

[@nigelkthomas9501]

How the hell can a road building company go bust? This kind of f* up should simply never happen.

[@therighthonourabletimothy5448]

Interesting video...shame about the unnecessary foul language which doesn't contribute anything to the video.

[@DaL33T5]

0:04 - 0:17 So, basically, Corby is the British Flint, Michigan?

[@angelsone-five7912]

The amount of tax-payers money that just gets wasted is mind boggling.. Good vid.

[@boyfromblackstuff7859]

As one who has spent nearly 40 years in the construction industry, a good part of it on tax payer funded infrastructure projects its better you don't think about it,if you knew you would probably be leading a march on parliament, it's much worse than you can comprehend! As a fellow tax payer I get incandescent over it.

[@MakeDoAndMend1]

Isn't it finished now and in use. Maybe an update is needed regarding this video plse.

[@daniterrykelly]

Haha I'm from here Thought they finished it at some point

[@caravaningincarathevan467]

I've driven on it too get too rockingham racetrack

[@kirkmooneyham]

Seems most of the abandoned roads are old and more than a bit broken down. This one looks quite serviceable in the whole, simply left unfinished. Sad, really.

[@kenstevens5065]

So £300,000 to see what to do with it, why can't the Head of Highways and his staff come up with a plan (what are they paid for if not) but no, every jobsworth will want to get an oar in, including the Green brigade, it will take years to make a decision and no doubt cost even more. Rip off Britain.

[@simonshadowshow]

I live down the road and never knew this was here.. How do you get to it ?

[@scudger99]

Roundabout by Morrisons frozen warehouse.

[@pastymansixtynine]

The roundabout that leads onto Gretton Rd, the blocked exit on the left is this road.

[@tyapnekadegaming7997]

i live nearby so i can visit this place at any time

[@nickmurray4900]

I live here haha you were too kind

[@AlexanderWright1]

What a waste of money, time and resources. By the time they get around to doing anything about it, The surface will have been ruined by weathering and plant roots breaking up the surface.😡

[@nervo6321]

What a huge waste of money...i travel to Corby virtually every week ( to Jacksons Bakery ) and never knew this unused road existed.

[@scudger99]

It's about a 2 or minute walk from Jacksons.

[@nervo6321]

Cheers mate i will check it out

[@Peabody10]

I'm thinking were is my motorbike.?🏍️

[@adamcowood7553]

on that road, I'd still be late due to traffic

[@MrGreatplum]

The folly of private developers - amazing that no other developer took on building the new estates - maybe no one wants to live in Corby…

[@donwright3427]

Santa Pod 2

[@karlgreene2177]

I wish all roads were car free.

[@TwoWholeWorms]

M23 Coulsdon Exit Bridge o.o

[@aaaaplay]

They could make the money back by hiring it out for a Mad Max or other apocalyptic film lol.

[@61js]

The English version of the filmThe Road 😂

[@derekmarshall6332]

A year or so on, has anything happenned since putting the 300K in ?

[@AutoShenanigans]

Nothing as far as I know!

[@Nick-ye5kk]

Looks like a normal part of Corby to me.

[@Louisejames23]

Northamptonshire councils sure do like to spunk our cash away….

[@JD-wn3cc]

They should have just stuck to trouser presses. Seem to have branched out too far, too quick and overstretched themselves. Question is, did corby waste public or private money making a monumental embarrassment of themselves?

[@chriscollins1704]

Why is it closed? Its in better condition than some of the roads I use every day. Just stop fannying about and open it

[@chrishenniker5944]

I bet the local kids use it, ride their dirt bikes, quads, hot hatches, etc.

[@iaindw1]

ever used for a post apocalyptic movie?

[@jazmo6662]

Isn't it a shame that all these abandoned roads are blocked off and unused. I know there are many van lifers who would probably jump at the chance to use them for safe overnight stops. For a small fee the councils could even open them up as aires (like the ones in Europe) which have basic facilities, water, toilet/black waste emptying, EHU (if wanted), Electric vehicle charging points, and Laundromat facilities. With the infrastructure for road drainage, power for the lights etc., it probably wouldn't cost that much to reinstate them. Just think how much money they could recoup (as long as they are not greedy) over the long term provision of such facilities! They could even provide employment for wardens to look after them. Looking at the comments below there are many other ideas that these abandoned roads could be used for. So much potential wasted because councils can't think outside the box!

[@confusicated]

£300,000 just to assess? I wonder how much of that money will end up in private accounts? These people don't live in the real world do they?

[@JMH7506]

Utter madness, just imagine how much all that road, street furniture and bridge cost the tax payers? Crazy!!

[@mystified1429]

Not as much as H.S.2 ....... Grim up North but have a look @ the "Folkestone to Honiton trunk road "on the S. Coast. Started 1970 still going in dribs + drabs..Part is the A27 dead end at Arundel . Turn right after q'ing or turn left and do a U turn in the garage - then the lights let you out.😆

[@JMH7506]

@@mystified1429 yeah, I grew up down there not far from Honiton and you’re right the roads aren’t great making holiday season a bit if a nightmare. I live and work near HS2 !!!! Appalling waste of money and destruction of our green and pleasant land!!

[@twolzz4987]

holy shit a video about the place im from that isnt completely about how shit it is

[@ryanh3285]

Rockingham speedway was decent

[@julianshepherd2038]

Make a good cycle way to nowhere.

[@1973Washu]

This is what happens when you hire town planners who are both drunk and insane.

[@750triton]

It's a shame it's not being used by those who are forced in to illegal street "larking about". It could be generating revenue to pay for its own completion if they held events there

[@oddities-whatnot]

What a waste of money building that

[@LostsTVandRadio]

LOVE these videos!! Just one little thing - could you hold back on the swearing please, as I'd love to share them more widely.

[@drankfrebin]

Ahh corby, the blight of Northamptonshire. Its like going back to filthy Victorian times over there. Literally like a 3rd world country over there. Great community spirit though, salt of the earth people and all that

[@BossySwan]

Shirley you can’t be serious

[@wilting_alocasia]

Ahh Corby, always a classy crap hole

[@illumencouk]

Someone is laughing all the way to the bank. Corby council has earmarked a further £300,000 of Taxpayers money to 'assess', not fix but 'arse'ess' how much more Taxpayers money will be needed to be spent to finish a road that Taxpayers had originally paid for 25 years ago. Multiply this 'model' by the number of councils up and down the country and you begin to ask, where is all the fuckin' money going?

[@illumencouk]

I received a notification from You Tube to tell me that 'someone just liked (a thumbs up) your comment' - but the post still shows 'zero likes'. Freedom of Speech means I'm free to say what I think. Who 'actually' sees what I have to say, is a totally different matter. Ain't democracy brilliant!

[@joedaman8436]

It's like a road after an apocalypse 😂 it's a shame, because coming from Kettering way, it seems like there's just one road in and out of Corby, the last time I went through there half the place was boarded up? I don't know if it's still the same?

[@clairehall704]

It must be a long time since you been Corby!

[@joedaman8436]

@@clairehall704 probably about 10 years ago now, to be honest, it was proper rough, sorry if you find that offensive, but i wouldn't visit the place again, it was terrible! I had to go there a few times with the work I was doing.

[@clairehall704]

@@joedaman8436 it is total diffent now!lot of money invested in it, I thought you meant Kettering was bad that I agree with it has gone down the pan!

[@joedaman8436]

@@clairehall704 oh that's good to know then, glad to hear they have made the place better, I won't be put off now, thanks for the info and I hope I didn't cause any offence.. but yeah, agree about Kettering, I went there a few months ago for a day out, it's gone right downhill?

[@clairehall704]

@@joedaman8436 not at all, I would have agreed with you at that time , we moved few year ago, my hubby from market Harborough but house price in Corby good, it a wonderful town, my husband loves it hear x

[@mollymurphy999]

Money well spent.

[@sallybennett7869]

What a staggeringly vulgar waste of resources!

[@charlestlawson6806]

What a waste of public money ,Should have come out of the councils own purse #

[@paulfrost8952]

The council’s money is public money🤔