Wiltshire MP pushing for safety improvements on notorious A303 junction
Dr Andrew Murrison wants to see work on the Willoughby Hedge section
South West Wiltshire's MP is calling for safety concerns at the Willoughby Hedge junction of the A303 to be moved up the priority list.
Andrew Murrison says with delays and controversy surrounding the major project for the road around Stonehenge, other local improvements should still go ahead.
He's written to the Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, to ask for the junction near East Knoyle to be made safer.
In reply, the Secretary of State says the A303 remains an important route, and that more details are needed about the interchange:
"I want to reassure you that Government remains committed to providing high-quality connection to the South West, and we recognise improving the A303/A358 corridor is key to achieving this.
"Safety is, of course, a key priority across the network, so thank you for bringing my attention to your concerns around the Willoughby Hedge junction on the A303. I would encourage you to engage further with National Highways as to whether there are any issues specific to this location that may require attention, though of course any solution would have to be considered within the context of the wider ambitions for long term improvements to the A303 as a strategic corridor."
Dr Murrison thinks local improvements are desperately needed if a delay to other schemes on the road aren't close to going ahead:
“We seem to be getting the worst of both roads – no investment to dual bad sections of the A303 and a block on the possibility of a roundabout or slip road solution at Willoughby Hedge that would improve safety and reduce heavy traffic through villages because we continue to pretend the road is going to become strategic in some way in the very distant future. That's not okay. I will continue to lobby for a decision one way or the other.”