I have seen some comments in local media over the past few weeks about my activities in relation to traffic congestion in Evesham and the quotes attributed to me do not accurately reflect my view on the matter or where responsibility for roads lies.
The different levels of government have clearly defined responsibilities and while the Department for Transport provides some funding, policy and guidance for maintenance of road networks in England, the responsibility for the operation and maintenance of local roads is the responsibility of the local authorities. The maintenance and operation of local roads in Evesham therefore, is the responsibility of Worcestershire County Council.
As an MP I respect the remit of local councils and I – quite rightly - don’t control the decisions that the Council takes about the local road network and it would be inappropriate for me to try and exert influence on them. What I am able to do – and actually spend a lot of time doing – is ensure that when constituents contact me with concerns about traffic or local roads, these views are relayed directly to the Council to be taken into consideration and responded to by the appropriate level of government. To the extent that I am able to leverage my role as an MP to help or aid a local initiative, then I will do so. I am able to lobby most effectively for national roads and together with my fellow Worcestershire MPs I have successfully lobbied central government for funding including £5 million to go towards the Northern Link Road and £54.5 million to dual the Carrington Bridge and the A4440 improvements.
I communicate regularly with Worcestershire County Council on local issues including traffic and try to ensure that I am kept up to date with action the Council is planning to take. In my most recent communication with the relevant officers I was informed that the Council is still working through a methodical plan that seeks to consider all of the options that the local community has shared for making improvements at some of the town’s junctions and once this has been completed, it will look at some more wide-ranging and longer-term measures. This feasibility study of the suggested solutions is due to complete in the coming weeks, following which the findings will be published and a Stakeholders group will be set up to ensure that the Council is liaising with the local community about its plans.
I am an Evesham resident myself and not only do I sympathise with frustrations about the traffic problems we have been facing, I share them too. I will continue to leverage my role as an MP to improve the local road network where appropriate and will maintain my regular engagement with the Council as it continues reviewing the possible solutions.