11 October 2006
Geoffrey Clifton-Brown today urged the Government to build the last missing link of dual carriageway between Gloucester and Swindon, which runs through his Gloucestershire constituency.
At today’s Adjournment Debate, which Mr Clifton-Brown requested many months ago, he appealed to Dr Stephen Ladyman, the Transport Minister, to complete a project which has hung in limbo for the past decade.
Mr Clifton-Brown said:
“I believe that this road must be a National, not only a South West regional priority. I am concerned about the safety of my constituents and of road users, the impact on our environment and the economy of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire as a whole. Gloucestershire is the “gateway” to the South West, how can regeneration and infrastructure projects be worthwhile throughout the South West, if there is a severe bottleneck leading into the Region. Gloucestershire suffers as it is on the periphery of the South Western region, and the peripheries of the South East, the West Midlands and Wales.
The Minister admitted that both he and the Highways Agency are “uncomfortable with the existing situation” and he has promised to continue to work with the Agency to secure a long term solution, he will ask the South West Region if they wish to re-prioritise their schemes in two years time. I was glad that he recognised the importance of this road. I acknowledge his point, that from a geographic point of view this problem is hard to solve.
I was delighted to be joined by my colleagues, Laurence Robertson the Members of Parliament for Tewkesbury, and the Forest of Dean MP, Mark Harper, at the debate, who made very valuable contributions, based on the priorities of their own constituents. We will continue to pressure the South West Region to recognise the importance of this road.
Mr Clifton-Brown added:
“I was delighted to secure this debate, which demonstrated the government is keen to see this missing link built, but it will require continued pressure from me and my Parliamentary colleagues, local authorities and residents to see it through to completion. I regard this road as one of my priorities as Member of Parliament for the Cotswolds.”
At today’s Adjournment Debate, which Mr Clifton-Brown requested many months ago, he appealed to Dr Stephen Ladyman, the Transport Minister, to complete a project which has hung in limbo for the past decade.
Mr Clifton-Brown said:
“I believe that this road must be a National, not only a South West regional priority. I am concerned about the safety of my constituents and of road users, the impact on our environment and the economy of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire as a whole. Gloucestershire is the “gateway” to the South West, how can regeneration and infrastructure projects be worthwhile throughout the South West, if there is a severe bottleneck leading into the Region. Gloucestershire suffers as it is on the periphery of the South Western region, and the peripheries of the South East, the West Midlands and Wales.
The Minister admitted that both he and the Highways Agency are “uncomfortable with the existing situation” and he has promised to continue to work with the Agency to secure a long term solution, he will ask the South West Region if they wish to re-prioritise their schemes in two years time. I was glad that he recognised the importance of this road. I acknowledge his point, that from a geographic point of view this problem is hard to solve.
I was delighted to be joined by my colleagues, Laurence Robertson the Members of Parliament for Tewkesbury, and the Forest of Dean MP, Mark Harper, at the debate, who made very valuable contributions, based on the priorities of their own constituents. We will continue to pressure the South West Region to recognise the importance of this road.
Mr Clifton-Brown added:
“I was delighted to secure this debate, which demonstrated the government is keen to see this missing link built, but it will require continued pressure from me and my Parliamentary colleagues, local authorities and residents to see it through to completion. I regard this road as one of my priorities as Member of Parliament for the Cotswolds.”
