Craig Tracey MP has welcomed the news that National Highways will finally launch a consultation into improving the A5 which runs through North Warwickshire. The consultation will run for 6 weeks from Monday 5th September to Monday 17th October.
The local MP was instrumental in securing the funding for the project from Government and since the announcement in the 2019 Budget by then Chancellor Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP and since then has continued liaising with local stakeholders to ensure that it continued on its journey to final delivery.
The A5 is part of a key strategic route between London and Holyhead and it forms an essential east-west link across the South Midlands where it acts as a local distributor connecting a number of areas to the national motorway network. If left as it is, increased traffic would pile on additional pressure on the A5 and its junctions. This would mean that current traffic levels would increase which will in turn increase journey times significantly.
The options put forward by National Highway which look at turning the stretch in to a dual carriage way, would improve journey times by reducing congestion, reduce noise levels and support housing growth for the local area as well as economic growth for North Warwickshire and Bedworth.
Speaking on the launch of the consultation Craig said “There is a clear need to provide adequate capacity on the A5 to accommodate the increased demand we have seen due to its increased use over recent years. The challenges on here, particularly at peak times, has been a constant gripe for local residents and it’s pretty clear to everyone that for far too long the Dordon to Atherstone stretch of the A5 has been unfit for purpose, so I am very keen that we take full advantage of this funding to finally get it sorted.
Several options are being put forward by National Highways in respect of the route and it is critical that local people take the opportunity to have their say as a high level of public engagement in the scheme will help demonstrate to my colleagues in Government how badly these improvements are needed, potentially paving the way for more improvements along the route.
So, I would encourage all local residents, but particularly in Dordon, Grendon, Atherstone Polesworth, Wood End and the surrounding villages to engage in the process to ensure that their views are heard on this important consultation.”
National Highways will be holding a number of public events at the following times and places:
Dordon Village Hall, Browns Lane, Dordon B78 1TR – Thursday 8th September and Thursday 6thOctober from 2:00pm to 8:00pm
Grendon Community Centre – Boot Hill, Grendon, CV9 2EL – Thursday 15th September from 3:00pm to 8:00pm
Owen Street Community Arts Centre, Owen Street, Atherstone, CV9 1DG from 11:30am to 5:00pm
National Highways will also hold a number of engagement vans which will be at the following locations with staff on hand to answer any questions:
Friday 16th September – Grendon Working Men’s Club (Time tbc)
Saturday 17th September – Tamworth Services (time tbc)
Sunday 9th October – Tamworth Services (time tbc)
Monday 10 October Grendon Working Men’s Club (Time tbc)
Tuesday 11th October – Tamworth Services (time tbc)
National Highways will also be holding public Webinars using the virtual consultation tool on:
Tuesday 20 September (time tbc)
Thursday 13 October (Time tbc)
These will be available via http://highwaysengland.citizenspace.com/he/a5-dordon-to-atherstone