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South Norfolk MP Richard Bacon has written to Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly, asking her when the regional road funding mechanism will be adjusted to allow locally important schemes like the A140 Long Stratton bypass to be built,  as a new report finds that locally important road schemes do not get appropriate priority.

Mr Bacon was speaking as the Commons public accounts committee published its report into estimating and monitoring the costs of building roads in England.
 

The report calls for specific funds to be made available for small schemes to meet local problems and for major strategic schemes to be funded nationally, rather than absorbing regional budgets.

Mr Bacon said today: “The A140 Long Stratton bypass is ready to go once funding is agreed, but by only funding roadbuilding schemes of ‘regional’ importance, the government has effectively excluded roads such as the Long Stratton bypass from ever being constructed. According to the Department’s criteria, the bypass is not of ‘regional’ significance but as the main road linking Norwich and Ipswich it is enormously important locally”.

“Whilst local road schemes continue to be overlooked, drivers on the A140 will continue to face delays. Although the Department for Transport says it is aware of this problem, I urge the government to take action to change the funding regime soon. The people of Long Stratton have been waiting long enough for a bypass already”.
 

8 November 2007

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See also:
PAC REPORT: Estimating the costs of building roads in England
LOCAL NEWS: MP meets Minister on Long Stratton bypass
LOCAL NEWS: MP calls for green light on bypass
SPEECHES: Transport in the Eastern Region