Westbury’s MP Andrew Murrison asked Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander about the long-awaited Westbury bypass in the Commons on Tuesday during her statement on future road and rail projects.
Dr Murrison pressed the need for the relief road in the context of the Department for Transport’s recently published south coast to M4 strategic study which identified the A350 as the preferred option for a future trunk road. The MP is clear that this would be untenable unless Westbury and Yarnbrook are first bypassed using a western route that would service commercial and light industrial sites to the west of the town.
The minister said she would write to him.
Andrew said;
“The statement today was largely a rehash of announcements made before the general election. So far, all my constituents have seen from this government is the canning of the A303 Stonehenge dualling. However, I look forward to minister’s letter and hope it contains an indication that Westbury will get some relief from the upcoming Road Improvement Strategy.
In other news, Andrew has written to National Highways following two serious accidents on the A36 at Knook to ask when the notorious blackspot close to the B390 Chitterne turnoff will be mitigated.
Andrew has a meeting booked with junior transport minister Lilian Greenwood MP next week when he plans to go through local transport issues. He said;
“There’s no doubt we’re being overlooked by government with its focus on the north and midlands yet our roads and rail services tend to be worse. We matter too and I’m looking for some indication that ministers understand they can’t just ignore us.