Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne has today given the go ahead for at least £250 million of funding to upgrade the A358 allowing Taunton to grow and prosper. The investment in the A358 is included in a broader package of measures for the whole A303 which is going to be fully dualled in the coming years. Work will start on plans for a 1.8 mile tunnel past Stonehenge and dualling the Sparkford to Ilchester section of the road. The Government has announced its intention to upgrade the whole route, investing up to £2 billion over the coming decade.
Although the A358 is the major road linking Taunton to the M5 and the A303, it has suffered from underinvestment for many years causing massive delays and congestion - with problems worst at Henlade.
With plans for a new business park close to Junction 25 of the M5 it is essential that there is investment in infrastructure so that the area can fully benefit from the opportunities that brings, as well as easing the pressure on motorists who rely on the road to get around.
George Osborne said
“Because we Conservatives have a Long-Term Economic Plan, we are able to invest in the South west and commit to upgrading the A358, as part of a bigger investment package in the A303 and A358. This road has been on my priority list thanks to the brilliant Conservative Candidate for Taunton Deane, Rebecca Pow, who has been campaigning hard for this crucial investment. She has raised it personally with me, and her voice was heard loud and clear across government.
“For years this road has suffered from neglect, but with a strong Conservative voice for Taunton Deane and a government that’s fixing the economy, we are now able to commit to funding the A358 with the jobs and opportunities that will bring’.
Prospective MP Rebecca said: “This really will unlock Taunton Deane. The area has been suffering from inadequate infrastructure for years and this upgrade of the A358 - the busiest road in Somerset - will get things moving.
“It will be fantastic for business, great for local people and an enormous benefit for tourists heading to the South West. Projects like the proposed new business park just off the M5 can become a reality and that will have significant consequences for employment in the area. It’s altogether great news!”
Andrea Leadsom, MP for South Northamptonshire and Economic Secretary to the Treasury, was welcomed by Prospective Conservative MP for Taunton Deane, Rebecca Pow. The Minister said, ‘I think Rebecca has done a fantastic job for the local area, when we were advancing on the road infrastructure investment programme in 2013 Rebecca was the first to put her hand up for improvements for the A358.
I am delighted that we will be delivering in that with all of the benefits it will bring to the area, not just for new jobs but also to improve the quality of life for local residents