Adam Dance MP comments on the pausing of the proposals to dual the A358 Ilminster to Taunton

In response to the recent announcement that the proposed dualling of the A358 between Ilminster and Taunton has been "paused", Adam Dance MP said:

“After a chequered history, a rethink of the plan to dual all of the A358 between Ilminster and Taunton is to be welcomed. 

"It is clear action is needed to help this important road link work better,  but I have never been supportive of dualling of the whole length between Ilminster and Tauton.  This is a huge scheme, costly and time consuming.

"I believe that smaller scale changes which deal with the particular pinch points, such as a bypass at Henlade and changes to the A303 Southfields roundabout, are important. In conjunction the Ilminster bypass needs to be taken into consideration to improve the safety of this lethal route.  These smaller projects will be much quicker to design and implement (look at the length of time it has taken to dual the A303 around Sparkford - now overrun in both cost and time), and be more cost effective.  

"At the same time I would like to see real improvements in transport services for those without easy access to car travel, and that is why I want improvements to public transport as well as appropriate and effective improvements to our road network."