Brooks questions Minister on lack of A120 progress

Braintree MP Brooks Newmark has tackled the Transport Minister, Tom Harris MP, on the lack of progress towards improvements on the troubled stretch of the A120 between Braintree and Marks Tey. Braintree MP Brooks Newmark has tackled the Transport Minister, Tom Harris MP, on the lack of progress towards improvements on the troubled stretch of the A120 between Braintree and Marks Tey.

Mr. Newmark said, "As the Minister will be aware, traffic along the A120 leading to Braintree gets worse and worse every day. An announcement on the extension of the A120 between Braintree and Marks Tey is long overdue. When can my constituents expect an announcement?"

The Minister replied, "I will be able to make an announcement in due course. It will not be an early announcement, but I am happy to give the commitment that he will be kept up to date with any decisions taken. The major problem is the steep increase in the cost of the scheme, but working with my officials we will try to find some way forward, and I will keep him fully informed."

Mr. Newmark greeted the answer with frustration, saying "this is yet another cop-out by ministers and a double disappointment for local people. First, the Minister had promised me that some progress would be made within six months of our last meeting. That time is now well and truly up and we're still being fobbed off with an announcement to be made in 'due course.'

Second, the Minister has given me yet more confirmation that the real problem with this scheme is not the planning and engineering but the fact that the Government is increasingly running out of money.

We are faced with the nonsense of a Government which wants to build over 500,000 houses in the East of England over the next few years but is not prepared to invest the necessary money in one of the most infamous road choke-points in the region."

Mr. Newmark has written to the Minister asking for an update on the situation and asking for answers on four specific points:

• If the Department for Transport has yet sought and received legal advice in respect of the validity of the original consultation process.
• If there any plans for a further period of consultation with residents along the lines that Mr. Newmark suggested during their last meeting.
• If the Highways Agency is looking at alternative solutions to the Proposed Southern route in light of escalating costs.
• If the Government has reassessed its funding priorities in the light of the East of England Regional Spatial Strategy which suggests the building of over 500,000 in the region by 2021.