Investing in Britain and Cumbria's roads
The Government has unveiled the biggest investment in roads in a generation with a £15 billion Road Investment Strategy which will increase the capacity and condition of roads across England, to keep the economy growing and help people to get on and get around.
This may include dualling the A66, as a feasibility study into the much-needed possibility of making that road a dual carriageway is included in the announcement.
The government announced today that it will take forward Rory Stewart MP’s campaign – for dualling the A66 – to the next level, by conducting a full feasibility study of the route. They have also agreed to the push from John Stevenson, the Carlisle MP and Guy Opperman, the Hexham MP, supported by Rory Stewart, for a study on dualling the A69 between Carlisle and Newcastle. The “Trans-Pennine” initiative by the Department of Transport will focus on creating a strategic link between the West and the East coast across the Pennines in northern England.
The announcement on the A66 is a result of lobbying by Rory Stewart MP to address the serious congestion and safety issues on the A66 – which he argued has been “the major link between the North-West and the North-east since the time of the Romans.”
The lobbying has included meetings with Highways engineers and contractors, research into past engineering designs and plans and discussions with local councillors and officers of both the County Council and the Highways Agency, in Cumbria. In London, the MP has held six separate meetings with ministers and officials in the Department of Transport. He was also able to address the issue in a parliamentary debate, and discuss the issue directly with the Secretary of State for Transport Patrick McLoughlin on his Cumbria visit in 2013.
At the same time John Stevenson and Guy Opperman MP have taken the lead, supported by Rory Stewart, in pressing for dualling the A69, creating a better link between Carlisle and Newcastle. The A69 has also been a major focus over the past year, including meetings with the A69 and A689 parishes, town-hall discussions, engagement with councillors and with the Cumbria Association of Local councils – particularly focused on how to ease congestion at Warwick Bridge.
The much-needed Department of Transport study into the two roads is part of an ambitious £15 billion plan announced today to triple levels of spending on roads by the end of the decade. The government is investing in more than 100 new road schemes over this parliament and next, 84 of which are brand new today. For Cumbria and the north-west region, it signifies an investment of around £800 million and an estimated 600 new jobs.
Rory Stewart MP said: “This is a major win for the communities of north Cumbria. The A66 has been due for improvements for decades. So many of us are affected by the delays, the congestion, and the serious safety issues on the route. The link will unlock the economic potential of Penrith and the M6 corridor. I am also delighted that they have backed John Stevenson and Guy Opperman MP’s long campaign for improvements to the A69, which I have been proud to support.
"Today’s announcement shows that government has listened and will act, and with the North Pennine Study we have the opportunity to make major changes to the way our roads operate, enhancing their capacity and thus investing in our economy, whilst crucially making them safer and more convenient for constituents. I am absolutely delighted with today’s result and want to thank all those constituents who have engaged with me on the matter over the past years, who should congratulate themselves on bringing about this excellent news. But we still have a long way to go – this study is only the first stage in the task – and we won’t cease the lobbying until the dualling is complete.”
Secretary of State Patrick McLoughlin added:
“Today I am setting out the biggest, boldest and most far-reaching roads programme for decades. It will dramatically improve our road network and unlock Britain’s economic potential. Roads are key to our nation’s prosperity. For too long they have suffered from under-investment. This government has a long term plan to secure the country’s future and this £15 billion roads programme is demonstration of that. Better roads allow us to travel freely, creating jobs and opportunities, benefiting hardworking families across the country.”
Chancellor George Osborne, said:
”Our long term economic plan means today we can invest an unprecedented £15 billion into Britain’s infrastructure to improve repair and expand our roads. Our plans will transform some of the country’s most important strategic routes, with ambitious projects to dual the A303, A1, A27 and the A47 as well as spending on important local infrastructure boosting productivity and helping local economies. For years our roads have been neglected. Now that this government is fixing the economy, we can afford to invest properly in our roads – unlocking jobs for the future and local growth by creating a road network that is fit for the 21st century.”
This may include dualling the A66, as a feasibility study into the much-needed possibility of making that road a dual carriageway is included in the announcement.
The government announced today that it will take forward Rory Stewart MP’s campaign – for dualling the A66 – to the next level, by conducting a full feasibility study of the route. They have also agreed to the push from John Stevenson, the Carlisle MP and Guy Opperman, the Hexham MP, supported by Rory Stewart, for a study on dualling the A69 between Carlisle and Newcastle. The “Trans-Pennine” initiative by the Department of Transport will focus on creating a strategic link between the West and the East coast across the Pennines in northern England.
The announcement on the A66 is a result of lobbying by Rory Stewart MP to address the serious congestion and safety issues on the A66 – which he argued has been “the major link between the North-West and the North-east since the time of the Romans.”
The lobbying has included meetings with Highways engineers and contractors, research into past engineering designs and plans and discussions with local councillors and officers of both the County Council and the Highways Agency, in Cumbria. In London, the MP has held six separate meetings with ministers and officials in the Department of Transport. He was also able to address the issue in a parliamentary debate, and discuss the issue directly with the Secretary of State for Transport Patrick McLoughlin on his Cumbria visit in 2013.
At the same time John Stevenson and Guy Opperman MP have taken the lead, supported by Rory Stewart, in pressing for dualling the A69, creating a better link between Carlisle and Newcastle. The A69 has also been a major focus over the past year, including meetings with the A69 and A689 parishes, town-hall discussions, engagement with councillors and with the Cumbria Association of Local councils – particularly focused on how to ease congestion at Warwick Bridge.
The much-needed Department of Transport study into the two roads is part of an ambitious £15 billion plan announced today to triple levels of spending on roads by the end of the decade. The government is investing in more than 100 new road schemes over this parliament and next, 84 of which are brand new today. For Cumbria and the north-west region, it signifies an investment of around £800 million and an estimated 600 new jobs.
Rory Stewart MP said: “This is a major win for the communities of north Cumbria. The A66 has been due for improvements for decades. So many of us are affected by the delays, the congestion, and the serious safety issues on the route. The link will unlock the economic potential of Penrith and the M6 corridor. I am also delighted that they have backed John Stevenson and Guy Opperman MP’s long campaign for improvements to the A69, which I have been proud to support.
"Today’s announcement shows that government has listened and will act, and with the North Pennine Study we have the opportunity to make major changes to the way our roads operate, enhancing their capacity and thus investing in our economy, whilst crucially making them safer and more convenient for constituents. I am absolutely delighted with today’s result and want to thank all those constituents who have engaged with me on the matter over the past years, who should congratulate themselves on bringing about this excellent news. But we still have a long way to go – this study is only the first stage in the task – and we won’t cease the lobbying until the dualling is complete.”
Secretary of State Patrick McLoughlin added:
“Today I am setting out the biggest, boldest and most far-reaching roads programme for decades. It will dramatically improve our road network and unlock Britain’s economic potential. Roads are key to our nation’s prosperity. For too long they have suffered from under-investment. This government has a long term plan to secure the country’s future and this £15 billion roads programme is demonstration of that. Better roads allow us to travel freely, creating jobs and opportunities, benefiting hardworking families across the country.”
Chancellor George Osborne, said:
”Our long term economic plan means today we can invest an unprecedented £15 billion into Britain’s infrastructure to improve repair and expand our roads. Our plans will transform some of the country’s most important strategic routes, with ambitious projects to dual the A303, A1, A27 and the A47 as well as spending on important local infrastructure boosting productivity and helping local economies. For years our roads have been neglected. Now that this government is fixing the economy, we can afford to invest properly in our roads – unlocking jobs for the future and local growth by creating a road network that is fit for the 21st century.”
Comments