Following his recent meeting with the Highways Agency, which was also attended by County Councillor Wendy Silby, Jonathan Djanogly, the Member of Parliament for the Huntingdon Constituency, has received an undertaking from the Agency to investigate possible alternatives to installing grade separated junctions on the A14 between Thrapston and Brampton.
At the meeting, Mr Djanogly and County Councillor Silby expressed their extreme disappointment about the withdrawal of the scheme, which the Highways Agency have already spent over £1 million on, and particularly with the lack of consultation, explanation or alternative proposals.
The representatives from the Highways Agency acknowledged that the manner in which the situation had been dealt with was far from acceptable, but confirmed that the position could not now be changed unless the Department of Transport provided a specific grant for the work, which would be very unlikely.
The Agency indicated that the decision to pull the scheme had been twofold; new guidance on the way in which schemes are costed, to more accurately reflect the true costs of undertaking such works; and the increase in costs of the scheme resulting from the approval of CHUMMS and LSMMMS, which could potentially change the A14 from dual to three-lane by 2015.
As a result of the discussions at the meeting the Highways Agency has now agreed to instruct their agents to look into alternative schemes, including the possibility of installing acceleration and deceleration lanes. It is hoped that this process will be completed by the end of the year with a view to consulting with interested parties in January and February 2004. A bid for funding would then be made in May 2004 to commence works in 2006.
In the meantime, the County and District Councils are also demanding that the Highways Agency reconsider their position.
Mr Djanogly said:
"Whilst I join with everyone in being bitterly disappointed, I do think it is vitally important that we keep up the pressure on the Highways Agency and I am pleased to see how local councillors and councils at all levels are working together to ensure the maximum is achieved for the local residents. I will continue to liaise with all the parties involved.
A delay of the full junction improvements until 2015 will be very upsetting to local residents. However, considering the danger of these junctions, we must have works carried out now - whilst continuing to lobby for the full works to be done as soon as possible."