Priti calls on Transport Ministers to back A12 and A120 schemes

Witham MP Priti Patel has called on ministers in the Department for Transport to support the campaign to invest in the A120 dualling scheme and to progress the A12 widening scheme as soon as possible. During questions in the House of Commons to transport ministers last week, Priti raised the importance of ensuring the A12 widening scheme and A120 dualling scheme are funded by the Government in the forthcoming road investment strategy.

Commenting after the question session, Priti said: “Widening the A12 and dualling the A120 are two of the most important infrastructure schemes in the country for supporting economic growth and job creation. These strategic roads are economic corridors that facilitate trade to and from key ports and airports and help connect Essex to the rest of the country. The Government has already agreed to fund the widening of the A12 but this has been delayed due to Colchester Borough Council’s poor handling of their development plan proposals. We need the Government to intervene and ensure that this scheme progresses as soon as possible in conjunction of the dualling of the A120.”

“Transforming and modernising both of these roads will improve road safety and journey times while supporting business growth and investment.”

Extract from House of Commons Hansard from 18 July 2019:

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Priti Patel (Witham) (Con)

Community transport in Essex would benefit from investment in Essex’s roads, and particularly from the dualling of the A120 and the widening of A12. Will the Minister work with the Department to ensure that both those schemes feature in the road investment strategy 2?

Ms Nusrat Ghani MP – Under-Secretary (Dept of Transport)

That is a fantastic question. My right hon. Friend has captured my imagination, and that of the roads Minister, my hon. Friend the Member for Northampton North (Michael Ellis). I believe that the schemes are in the pipeline, and if I cannot meet my right hon. Friend, no doubt the roads Minister will, to make sure that the schemes are carried forward.

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