Graeme Demianyk and whilst it may all be hearsay at this stage, it does look as if we are going to be told on the 3rd December, in the Autumn Statement, what will - if anything be happening to the A303.
The two coalition parties are now
"going it alone" in this announcement, in a bid to gain our votes at next year's general election! The story goes into print telling us there is expected spending of £1.2 billion for the A303.....even breaking that figure up into 9 parts listing the amount to be spent on each section requiring upgrade. A Stonehenge underpass is one of 9 proposals being discussed in Whitehall as part of the latest feasibility study still taking place, which should be completed by the end of November. There have been a number of meetings over the past year in Taunton - the first of which STAG were to have had a representative in attendance, but
Dr Shuttleworth was put off at the last minute, when we were told we would be kept up to speed by officials attending the meeting......to date, we are not aware that any information has come forth from those in officialdom attending, and we have relied on other sources for updates.
"Jam tomorrow" is the phrase used by Shadow Transport Secretary - Ms Mary Creagh and she accuses the present government of making promises they have no intention of keeping and that they have allowed road spending to drop since they took over in 2010.....The story can be read here:
http://www.westerndailypress.co.uk/Opposition-questions-A303-pledge/story-23876448-detail/story.html I've got news for her......it was her government under the Transport Secretary of the time, Alistair Darling, that in 2007, cancelled any upgrading of the A303 after spending £46m of tax payers money on feasibility studies. In the story in WDP on 1st November, Ms Creagh does concede we have a problem of congestion on the A303......and we're gratified to her for keeping us up to speed with this information, because of course, it had gone unnoticed by us locals!!!! She goes on to say that "congestion is acute at peak times" and when other roads close.....I'm wondering if she's actually boned up on anything to do with our problem on the A303 because if she had, she'd find that those queues are there every weekend from Thursdays through to Monday, 7 days a week throughout the summer and at all school half terms. I assume the "road closure" she refers to is that of the A344 which, for her information, is permanent......as in SUO.....and in her capacity as Shadow Transport Secretary, I do hope she understands what this acronym means! Ms Creagh uses the phrase "zero based review" (ZBR) probably an Americanised buzz word that could also mean "zero bug release" to any commitment of spending for the A303 or roads in general. If we do bring in a Labour government next May, ZBR means they will start again at base one and we shall be back where we were in 1997!Please keep up the campaign momentum and keep signing our petition at: www.sh2.co.uk
You can also read our sister blog at www.sh2.co.uk Bypass Winterbourne Stoke!
2 comments:
Of course Mary Creagh has now been moved on to other duties so let's see what the new shadow minister thinks. This is the problem with getting any infrastructure built in this country. At the very best a Government has a five year view (i.e. to the next election.) But more likely we'll "benefit" from a 12 month view as ministers get shuffled around. New ones will want to leave their mark so they review everything their predecessor did. Whatever else you think about the French economy, when they decide to build infrastructure they get on with it. Over the last couple of years I've watched as they've built literally hundreds of miles of TGV line down the west of France towards Bordeaux. The pace is astonishing.
And by the way. Even the STAG blog is understating the extent of the delays! I drive to Grateley station on the A303 most days, leaving at 6:30 or 7:00 in the morning. The stretch between Longbarrow and Stonehenge frequently moves at around 20mph to 30mph (slower than it does done Shrewton High Street!) On Wednesday I left at 05:00 to drive to Heathrow and it was 30mph max even then.
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