The £1.3 billion revamp of one of the busiest routes in the east of England is now uncertain following a government announcement of a review into transport infrastructure. National Highways had been planning to expand the A12, which runs between Chelmsford and the A120 near Colchester in Essex, from two lanes to three in each direction.
The project overcame a significant legal hurdle that could have delayed progress for an extended period, according to Essex Live. However, the agency has been unable to confirm when work will begin due to an ongoing review initiated by the new Labour Government, amidst allegations of a £2.9 billion ‘shortfall’ in transport funding left by the previous Conservative Government.
A DfT spokesperson said: “The A12 widening scheme is under review like all of the DfT’s capital portfolio.”
On July 30, Transport Secretary Louise Haigh remarked: “The financial inheritance this government has received is extremely challenging. The previous administration has left a £22 billion public spending gap this year alone £2.9 billion of which is unfunded transport commitments. Communities up and down the country have been given hope for new transport infrastructure, with no plans or funds to deliver them. This government will not make that mistake. This government will rebuild our economic foundations while restoring transparency and public trust.”
In a recent statement highlighting the disconnect between planned initiatives and actual funding, it was noted by an official: “In recent weeks, the gap between promised schemes and the money available to deliver them has been made clear to me. There has been a lack of openness with the public about the status of schemes some of which were cancelled or paused by the previous government, without proper communication to the public.”
The same source mentioned the actions being taken to address these issues: “As the Chancellor informed Parliament, I am commissioning an internal review of DfT’s capital spend portfolio. We will bring in external expertise and move quickly to make recommendations about current and future schemes.”
