M5 Junction Revamp Is Vital, Says Town's Mp ; 'There Is Chaos and Misery for Thousands'

Summary

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WESTON-super-Mare MP John Penrose is urging the Government to ensure that cash is secured to carry out multi-million-pound road improvements to the resort's traffic-clogged motorway junction. Mr Penrose has written to transport minister Mike Penning seeking clarification on the future of the scheme after the Government put other motorway junction improvement schemes on hold during its spending review. Before the election, the previous Government granted the Weston Transport Package 'entry status' and promised Pounds 12 million to fund improvements to junction 21 and the expansion of Worle railway station. The Weston Package includes plans to carry out improvements to the Drove Road roundabout as well as installing better facilities at the railway station, including a new car park on the south side. Other improvements to the station would include bus stops and bus priority measures on both sides and better cycle and passenger facilities and widening the A370 at Marchfields Way to allow two-way traffic.

The package was drawn up by North Somerset Council in response to the amount of housing development in the area. But the future of the scheme hangs in the balance because the funding for the project cannot be guaranteed because of the Government's ongoing austerity measures. In his letter to Mr Penning, Mr Penrose said the scheme was crucial to Weston's transport and economic future. Mr Penrose said: "Everyone understands the awful economic legacy which we've been left by the last Government and the need to live within our means. "But local people are understandably worried about the future of this scheme, so I am taking it up personally with the transport minister. "20,000 people currently commute to work from Weston every single weekday and our local transport infrastructure is struggling to cope. "Over the last five years we've made headway in tackling the problem.

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M5 Junction Revamp Is Vital, Says Town's Mp ; 'There Is Chaos and Misery for Thousands'

"For instance, we've su...

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