THE Government decision to drop a major scheme to dual one of Somerset’s key transport arteries is a “big disappointment” for the county but Somerset Council says its “not the end of the road”.

Somerset Council’s lead member for transport and digital, Councillor Richard Wilkins said the Government's decision to shelve a £328 million National Highways upgrade of the A358 between Ilminster and Junction 25 of the M5 at Taunton was “deeply disappointing”, but has welcomed the “much-needed clarity” that has arisen from the decision.

Confirmation came on October 30 as the Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced a series of measures to balance the Government’s books which included cancelling a number of rail and road infrastructure projects.

Councillor Wilkins said the Council will lobby hard for Government support and funding to deliver smaller scale improvements to the route.

A scheme to build a tunnel on a section of the A303 under Stonehenge was also shelved in the summer.

It was estimated an upgraded A358 as part of a wider A303 corridor improvement would have helped to significantly cut carbon emissions, boost the local economy by billions of pounds and help create more than 20,000 jobs.

Councillor Wilkins said: “This is of course disappointing news for Somerset. The A358 is a vital transport artery linking London and the South East to the South West, it is crucial in terms of growing the economy.

“Somerset Council is now very keen to work with National Highways and the Department of Transport and our partners Peninsular Transport to understand what is possible and we will redouble our efforts to secure Government funding to ensure improvements can be made.

“In particular, we want to see what can be done to ease congestion and reduce pollution around the Henlade section of the A358.

“This is the end of one chapter, but it is absolutely not the end of the road when it comes to improving this crucial transport link.”

Peninsula Transport represents the five lead transport authorities in the South West, programme director Hannah Shrimpton said: “Peninsula Transport is disappointed to see works on the A358 cancelled, along with the earlier withdrawal of the A303 Stonehenge scheme, given the importance of the A303/A30/A358 corridor in terms of connectivity for our area.

“We remain firmly of the view that investment into much-needed road improvements to the A303 corridor including the works at Stonehenge and the A358 to the east of Taunton are essential to creating a second strategic route and delivering sustained economic growth in the South West peninsula.  

“Whilst the Budget announcement is disappointing, we will continue to support the Department for Transport to ensure that they look at other ways to alleviate connectivity issues in the region.”