Dr Luke Evans, Member of Parliament for Bosworth, has continued his campaign for much-needed improvements to the A5 in a meeting with the Roads Minister after the Prime Minister announced funding last year.
In a speech on October 4th the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced funding from the cancelled London to Manchester leg of HS2 would be redirected to transport projects across the country, including the Hinckley to Tamworth stretch of the A5, a total of £36 billion to be divided up.
The GP-turned-MP has said the ‘much-need improvements’ includes dualling of parts of the A5 and work to address the frequently hit Watling Street bridge.
In 2021 Hinckley’s Watling Street bridge was named the ‘most bashed bridge in Britain’ with data showing the bridge is hit, on average, every two weeks causing delays that take hours to clear.
Dr Evans has been calling repeatedly for changes to the road since he was elected in December 2019, including speaking in a Westminster Hall debate alongside other MPs whose constituents are also affected by the A5 and giving the keynote speech at a regional conference on the benefits these improvements would bring.
Previous research from Midlands Connect shows that over 80% of people across Hinckley, Nuneaton and Rugby support improvements to the A5 and believe it would be important to local residents.
Dr Luke Evans, Member of Parliament for Bosworth, said “I’m grateful to the Roads Minister, Guy Opperman, for meeting with me to discuss these much-needed improvements and pleased to see that he’s keen to deliver on the improvements following the Prime Minister’s announcement.
“For too long the A5 has acted as a straitjacket for growth and prosperity in our area, costing local people valuable time and causing our town and villages to be treated as a rat run each time the Watling Street bridge is hit.
“The Prime Minister’s announcement last year was welcome news for people who use the A5 and I’m pleased to hear the Department for Transport are working to ensure we see progress on these changes.
“As ever, I will keep our community updated and share news on this as and when I have it.”
