DR BEN SPENCER MP
If you mention the A320 to anyone in Chertsey, you will probably hear a groan. While it’s one of our major link roads locally, all too often it is plagued with delays.
It’s great news that funding for the A320 improvement works has now been approved and work can begin to consult with Chertsey and Ottershaw residents on the detailed designs for the improvements.
The funding, worth £41.8 million, has been awarded to Surrey and Runnymede Councils by Homes England’s Housing Infrastructure Fund. The aim of the improvement works will increase capacity on the road and improve traffic flow, resulting in fewer delays. The plans will also see improvements for the more environmentally friendly among us, with improved routes for cyclists and pedestrians. Of course, any road works will cause delays during completion, but I will continue to work with the Council and Highways England on efforts to minimise this while this work is in progress.
The A320 has also been identified by Surrey County Council as a major route for its proposed lane rental scheme. If approved, this would see any utility companies having to pay a premium for works at peak times, resulting in either fewer daytime disruptions, or more money to reinvest in our local infrastructure.
Chertsey is a great place to live, but like most of Runnymede and Weybridge we struggle with infrastructure designed for a different era. We need to improve our infrastructure and make it suitable and sustainable for modern day needs. These developments are great steps towards this, and I hope are the start of more improvements to come.