Not the end of the road for cancelled road project

Somerset Council will push for smaller-scale improvements to a major road improvement scheme after it was was cancelled by the government.

National Highways had planned to dual the A358 between the Southfields roundabout in Ilminster and Junction 25 of the M5 in Taunton.

The announcement ends years of uncertainty surrounding the £328m scheme, which the Chancellor Rachel Reeves in her budget on 30 October branded "unfunded and unaffordable".

Somerset Council said the government’s decision was “a big disappointment” for the county but “not the end of the road”, pledging to push for smaller-scale upgrades in the coming years.

Councillor Richard Wilkins said Ms Reeves’ decision was “deeply disappointing” but welcomed the “much-needed clarity” according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

“We are very keen to work with National Highways, the Department of Transport and our partners at Peninsular Transport to understand what is possible, and we will redouble our efforts to secure government funding to ensure improvements can be made.

“This is the end of one chapter, but it is absolutely not the end of the road when it comes to improving this crucial transport link," he said.

Peninsula Transport represents the five lead transport authorities in the south west, and has published numerous strategies for improving the region’s transport and economic infrastructure.

Programme director Hannah Shrimpton said: “While the Budget announcement is disappointing, we will continue to support the DfT to ensure that they look at other ways to alleviate connectivity issues in the region.”

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