Chancellor earmarks £5million for vital Vale link road project - The Evesham Observer

Chancellor earmarks £5million for vital Vale link road project

Evesham Editorial 9th Mar, 2017 Updated: 9th Mar, 2017   0

A MAJOR road improvement scheme to reduce congestion in Pershore has taken a huge step forward after £5million was earmarked for the project.

Chancellor Phillip Hammond has dug deep to allocate funds for the scheme as part of a £17.5million giveaway for the the county in the budget which was revealed on Wednesday (March 8).

The budget boost for the new link road connecting the town to the A44 has been debated for many years.

Chiefs at the Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership even put the plans at the heart of a successful bid for more than £50million in funding from the Regional Growth Fund earlier this year.




The Pershore project will still require additional funding from Worcestershire County Council, but the part-funding from the Regional Growth Fund followed extensive lobbying by Pershore’s MP Harriett Baldwin, neighbouring MP Nigel Huddleston, Wychavon District Council and the County Council.

Mrs Baldwin and Mr Huddleston were briefed on the plans for the new link road last year, which will help ease traffic for lorries and commercial vehicles towards the motorway network.


“I back this scheme which has been discussed for many years and has now attracted the relevant funding to make it deliverable, as part of a local growth deal,” said Mrs Baldwin.

“The link road is part of an important plan to help attract more business to the town, while making journeys easier for motorists at all times of the day.

“It will also help take pressure off the Pinvin crossroads.

“Alongside this bid, I’ll continue to work with the local authorities and the Department of Transport to press for improved capacity at Pershore’s train station, especially car parking to encourage more people to use the train where possible,” she added.

The proposed new link road is one of the locally-chosen projects likely to benefit over the next few years.

Mark Stansfeld, Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership Chair, said: “The additional £17.5 million announced today is great news and will enable further investment in schemes across the county which will improve infrastructure, deliver further housing and improve skills provision for local people.

Coun Simon Geraghty, Vice Chair of the Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership and leader of Worcestershire County Council, added: “This significant new funding for a range of key projects demonstrates the success of the excellent partnership the Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership and County Council have forged which is helping to improve connectivity, skills and economic growth across the county.

“We will continue to work together on our bid to the Local Transport Majors Fund for £70million to complete the dualling of the Southern Link Road and Carrington Bridge, whilst also investing in business support and skills projects to match the growth within our local business communit,” he added.

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