Earlier this year members of the public gave Highways
England their views on proposals to dual the route,
which, with the A303, forms a vital link between
London, the South East and the South West.
The Government company has been busy analysing
responses and in an update today said that further
engineering and economic evaluation was required to
help ensure that the route finally proposed is the
right one.
It also announced the start of new engagement
activities with community representatives early in the
new year to help ensure local people are kept informed
of progress.
David Stock, Highways England Project Manager for the
A358 scheme, said:
We’re very grateful to everyone who participated in
our consultation, and we completely understand that
people want a solution as soon as possible to the
congestion and long delays they currently experience
and the harmful impact on the region’s economy.
The A303/A358 corridor is a vital connection between
London, the South East and the South West, and we are
committed to improving it, but we have to ensure we
have the best solution possible.
We hope to announce the preferred solution in the
spring, we’ll be keeping community groups informed in
the meantime, and the public will have another chance
to comment on the proposals after we have developed
the design of the preferred route.
Three options were presented during consultation and
more than 1,500 groups and individuals responded.
The engagement will start early next year with the
first of a series of community forum events with
representatives from local authorities, parish
councils, local businesses and community groups.
Invitations to the community events will be issued
shortly and updates will also be posted on
the scheme web
page.
The Government is committed to upgrading all remaining
single carriageway sections of the A303/A358 corridor,
and together with the A358 scheme, Highways England is
also delivering the A303 Stonehenge and A303 Sparkford
to Ilchester schemes as part of the £15 billion first
Road Investment Strategy.
Planning applications for the latter two schemes have
been accepted for examination by the Planning
Inspectorate.
