Road upgrade plan won't improve congestion - MP

New plans to upgrade one of the main routes between South Ribble and Preston will make "no difference whatsoever" to how congested it gets, a new MP has said.

Paul Foster, South Ribble's MP, has said he would continue his long-standing campaign to turn the A582 into a dual carriageway between Lostock Hall and Penwortham.

In his final act as leader of South Ribble Borough Council before stepping down, Mr Foster told a meeting Lancashire County Council's revised vision for the route amounted to no more than "one or two minor improvements to some of the junctions".

The county council said its "ambition" remained to make the road a dual carriageway.

A public consultation is taking place into the proposed changes, which includes the removal of three roundabouts at the separate points where the A582 meets Stanifield Lane, Croston Lane and Centurion Way.

"The proposals that the county council are now asking for consultation on….[are] not doing any dualling of the [A]582 anywhere. In fact, the main element of the [route] that is suffering the most chronic congestion, they're doing nothing to," Mr Foster said.

The Labour politician also accused County Hall of diverting "public monies…from a critical road network to support the infrastructure needed for two of their own developments – namely, the neighbouring Lancashire Cricket ground and Lancashire Central industrial developments".

The county council said its "ambition" remained to fully dual the A582 on the South Ribble and Preston border, but that the improvements it had planned in the meantime reflected the fact travel patterns have changed since that blueprint was developed more than a decade ago.

The authority is preparing a business case to bid for government cash for the revised A582 scheme.

Lancashire County Council committed £25m to the development of highway infrastructure on the A582 in April 2019.

Meanwhile, councillor Phil Smith, deputy leader of the Conservative opposition group on South Ribble Council, said his party's support for dualling the A582 was "well-known" and called for the authority to have an official opinion on the new plans and submit it as part of the public consultation.

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