As I see it: A46 project is critical for town’s future, says Newark MP Robert Jenrick

Readers of the Advertiser will have followed the recent decision by Labour and Independent members of Newark Town Council to vote against the dualling of the A46, writes the MP for Newark, Robert Jenrick.

To say this provoked an outcry would be an understatement.

Residents were rightly furious at the attempt to sabotage this critical project, which would improve quality of life for the entire area and boost our local economy by improving business productivity.

Various explanations were made by the councillors for their decision.

And when I drew attention to their voting record, I was reported to the police for a hate crime! You couldn’t make it up.

Needless to say, the police do not appear to have wasted their time on this nonsense, and nor am I.

I’m much more concerned about whether the incoming Labour government will renege on the promise to build the road.

Rachel Reeves, the new Chancellor, has announced that the government are axing a number of infrastructure projects across the country.

This seems to be to pay for other priorities like the much vaunted Great British Energy — the energy company that doesn’t produce any energy — and billions in “climate aid”.

I would prefer the government to focus on our own people and build hospitals and roads here, rather than dubious development projects overseas.

I’ve written to Rachel Reeves and to our new East Midlands Mayor, who has been silent on the dualling of the A46 since taking office in May (she has found time to advertise for Walking and Cycling “Ambassadors”, but not to address this).

It was great to see major local employers like British Sugar, Curry’s and Vodaphone all lobbying hard.

Their voices, along with the Newark Business Club, really matter and help to explain why the road will sustain and attract investment and jobs.

The town would simply be a more investable proposition if lorries and employees weren’t stuck in traffic so often.

I will be making the case as strongly as I can for the project to proceed as planned. It’s clearly critical to our future and we are tantalisingly close to getting shovels in the ground.

It would be a huge pity to lose the good work done over the past decade, cross party, as one united community.

Editor’s note: The town council last week reversed the decision and voted to support the A46 project.