Call for route upgrade to boost West economy

DEVON County Council and South West business leaders have joined forces and urged the Government to commit to upgrading one of the main roads into Devon.

While the go-ahead for the Stonehenge Tunnel and the progress made on the A303 between to Sparkford to Ilchester has provided encouragement, the Government has yet to commit to funding the full length of works to the delay-ridden A303/A30/A358 corridor.

Analysis commissioned by a campaign partnership of South West local authorities and Local Enterprise Partnerships showed that improving the whole corridor would not only deliver a massive uplift to the region’s economy from Cornwall to Wiltshire, it would also create 21,000 new jobs over time.

However, there are mounting concerns that the Government has got cold feet over funding vital improvements to the whole route, despite Highways England citing an independent report that says it would boost the South West economy by £39 billion.

The Peninsula Transport Shadow Sub-National Transport Body has written to Secretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps about the importance of the whole A303 route and has also called for improvements to the single carriageway A30 through the Blackdown Hills between Honiton and Yarcombe.

Councillor Andrea Davis, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Development, said: “Before the pandemic ravaged our economy, the Great South West desperately needed a safe, reliable second strategic route to London and the South East markets. It is even more essential now to support our economic recovery and growth.

“Getting the go-ahead for the Stonehenge Tunnel and the progress made on Sparkford to Ilchester are crucial first steps. I welcome this, as I welcome Highways England’s citing of the independent study commissioned by our campaign partnership as evidence of the huge economic benefits improving the route will bring, but the study is crystal clear. All those enormous benefits in new jobs, prosperity and safety will only be achieved if the whole route – the A303, the A30 including the important Blackdowns link to Honiton, and the A358 to Taunton – is substantially improved.

“The Government needs to be clear about its intentions, give a firm commitment to improving the whole route and a firm commitment to deliver the huge economic benefits that Highways England supports.”

Stuart Elford, chair of British Chambers of Commerce South West, said: “Now more than ever our region needs a powerful statement of intent from the Government that it will finally transform the whole of the congested A303/A30/A358 corridor into the modern second strategic route our economy is crying out for.

“This is no time for half measures, if we are to build back better as the Prime Minister wants, then the Government needs to be bold and put its money where its mouth is.”

Deborah Fraser, CBI South West director, said: “Upgrades to the full A303/A30/A358 corridor will drastically improve connectivity between the South West and the rest of the country, while delivering tangible proof that the Government is serious about fulfilling its levelling up pledges across the country.”