Priti Patel MP has criticised the Labour Government for scrapping the A120 dualling scheme. The announcement that the dualling of the A120 between Braintree and the A12/Marks Tey will no longer feature in the pipeline of schemes to be developed by the Government was buried in the Road Investment Strategy 3, 2026-2031, document published today. The Strategy, which outlines funding plans for the strategic highways network for the next five years and a pipeline beyond that, also failed to commit any significant funding for safety and improvement works on this section of the A120 and no funds were provided for any measures along the stretch of road impacted by the cancellation of the A12 widening scheme.
This is not the first time that a Labour Government has cancelled improvements to the A120 as a dualling scheme proposed 20 years ago was scrapped by the last Labour Government under Gordon Brown. Priti, who has written to the Secretary of State to express her disappointment with the decision, said:
“Labour continues to betray Essex. Last year they cancelled the A12 Widening Scheme and now they are ceasing all work on the A120 Dualling Scheme. The A120 is one of the most dangerous roads in the country and this decision will impact road safety and leave motorists suffering huge levels of congestion for years to come. Over the last decade we’ve worked with businesses, communities and Essex County Council to develop proposals that improve safety and support economic growth, but all this work has been wasted by this ill-thought through and nasty decision taken by Labour.”
“With Labour demanding more housing in this part of Essex, our infrastructure will not be able to cope. Instead of supporting road safety, economic growth and investment in Essex, Keir Starmer and Labour have left us worse off. This betrayal and contempt shown for Essex will not be forgotten and I’ll keep challenging Labour’s incompetent ministers over this shocking decision.”
