At Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons earlier today Dr Neil Hudson asked the Prime Minister to encourage his government departments to ensure local communities are not adversely affected by the planned A66 route.
This was a timely intervention as the Highways England consultation closes on 6th November.
Dr Hudson asked:
“I very much welcome the A66 Northern Trans-Pennine Project from Penrith to Scotch Corner. This one-billion-pound investment will improve safety and congestion and help to level up our region, supporting local jobs, essential services, and tourism. But we have to get the project right.
Will my Right Honourable Friend ask his Government Departments for Transport, the Ministry of Defence and DEFRA, to work together pragmatically and reasonably with suggested route amendments to ensure local communities such as Warcop, Musgrave and Sandford are not left blighted by these current plans?”
The Prime Minister, Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP replied:
“My hon. Friend is right that the development that he refers to is part of an infrastructure revolution that I think will transform the country, but he is also right that we should consider local feedback from stakeholders and the community when finalising the design, and so we will.”
Commenting after the Commons session Dr Hudson added
“I know that the there are worries in parts of Penrith and The Border of the impact of the A66 project and that is why it was important to raise with the Prime Minister directly. He has committed his government to listening to local feedback before finalising the route. As I have said many times publicly, I welcome the A66 Project, and the opportunities it presents to our region, but it absolutely must consider the strength of feeling in communities across Penrith and The Border.
The very communities that the A66 will serve must have a say in the route that this project takes. I would urge constituents to make their voice heard by contributing to the consultation at the following link: https://highwaysengland.citizenspace.com/he/a66-northern-trans-pennine-design-consultation/consultation/intro/.”
