LOCAL MP Andrew Murrison has hit back over comments made by the Bath MP that welcome a plan that could see heavy traffic diverted through Westbury instead of Bath.
The Department for Transport is carrying out a study on how to improve the connection between the M4 and the coast. A-roads currently take traffic heading from the M4 towards the coast through the Cleveland Bridge in Bath – the new study could see the route moved off the A46 and A36 in Bath with traffic instead sent via the A350 which goes through the centre of Westbury.
Andrew Murrison says there is “no way” any north-south route can be pushed through Wiltshire towns and villages without any considerable remedial measures which he says would include a western route bypass for Westbury.
According to the BBC’s local democracy reporting service, The Bath MP Wera Hobhouse says that the current route is damaging to her constituent’s health due to the sheer amount of traffic and that she would welcome the traffic being diverted through to the A350.
She said, “Cleveland Bridge is a Grade II listed site, and it is well known that it is not the right route for a constant flow of 40 tonne HGVs. My constituents’ health will also suffer due to the greater amounts of traffic and resulting higher pollution.”
Andrew Murrison said, “So, the Lib Dem MP for Bath wants to remove heavy traffic from the doorsteps of her elegant Georgian townhouses and her well-to-do residents and shunt them onto the people of hard-working Westbury. Typical. I too am in touch with the minister and so is my neighbour Michelle Donelan MP.
“There is no way any north-south strategic route can be pushed through our Wiltshire towns and villages without considerable remedial measures, including a western route bypass for Westbury. If Ms Hobhouse wants to come and talk to me about that she would be very welcome.”
