Oral question asked in the House of Commons, by Robert Walter (Conservative). It was answered on Thursday, 3 September 2009 on behalf of the South West Regional Grand Committee.

A303

Question: The Minister will be aware that my constituents will suffer absolute misery for several months this winter when large sections of the A303 are closed. There will be overnight closures and then a total closure for five weeks, when traffic will be diverted through Shaftesbury and Gillingham, coming on top of all the other local traffic. The question that my constituents want answered is when we will get the long-term dual carriageway improvements that have been promised for so many years. The Minister referred to the ““region’s funding advice””, but which region is giving that advice? Who are the people involved? When will the Minister give us the money to upgrade the road, which is essential to the south-west?

Answer: There is a tension when we campaign for improvements to transport infrastructure: when we get some of those improvements, we worry about the closures that are necessary to deliver them. The regional funding advice is put together between the south-west councils, which I met in this very chamber. They are chaired by the leader of Dorset county council, whom I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will be able to influence, given that they are in the same party. The Government office for the south-west and the South West of England Regional Development Agency also have a role in agreeing the regional funding advice that is submitted to the Department for Transport.

Secondary information