Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

A5 in the Midlands: Improvements — [Stewart Hosie in the Chair]

23 March 2022 · 4 other contributors · 7,920 words

Opened by Mark Pawsey Con Rugby

Responding minister: Trudy Harrison

Transport

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Mark Pawsey raised concerns about a5 in the midlands: improvements — [stewart hosie in the chair] in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • The A5 in the Midlands is a vital strategic route connecting London to north Wales, supporting 3 million people, 1.3 million jobs, and 22 billion in gross value added annually.
  • The road faces significant growth with plans for 103,000 new homes, 16,000 new jobs, and 524 hectares of employment land over the next 15 to 20 years.
  • The Government is spending 24 billion on motorways and trunk A roads from 2020 to 2025, including improvements for network performance.

Key requests to Government

The Government should bring forward the upgrade of the A5 between junction 1 on the M69 and junction 10 on the M42, which is one of the third road investment strategy pipeline projects. This would help deliver planned growth around the corridor route, support network resilience, ensure greater sustainability and safety, and manage freight impact.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Mark Pawsey Con Rugby

The A5 in the midlands is a vital strategic route connecting London to north Wales and intersects several major motorways, supporting almost 3 million people, 1.3 million jobs, and £22 billion in gross value added annually. The road faces significant growth with plans for 103,000 new homes, 16,000 new jobs, and 524 hectares of employment land over the next 15 to 20 years. However, the A5 has not seen a proportionate increase in funding despite its strategic importance and increasing usage. Without investment, it risks acting as a barrier to growth rather than an enabler.

Other contributors (4)
  • Alberto Costa Con South Leicestershire

    I congratulate my hon. Friend on securing this debate, stressing the need for investment in dualling the A5 to prevent missing out on economic growth and mentioning safety improvements at notorious accident blackspots. Highlighted the need for an efficient A5 to enable growth in the area. Emphasised that the road is dualled in parts but single carriageway elsewhere, requiring a consistent approach to upgrades.

  • Luke Evans Con Hinckley and Bosworth

    I support my hon. Friend's case for the importance of the A5, noting that district boundaries make it difficult to address issues comprehensively and urging recognition of its economic significance. Evans highlighted the importance of the A5 corridor for economic growth, housing development, and job creation in the Midlands. He noted that the road is crucial for connecting eastern and western parts of the region but suffers from reliability issues with critical incidents occurring every eight weeks and causing average delays of five hours. Evans emphasized the negative impact on local communities due to increased traffic seeking alternative routes, leading to safety concerns and deteriorating road conditions.

  • Mike Kane Lab Wythenshawe and Sale East

    The A5 is a strategic route generating £22 billion annually, but it suffers from severe congestion averaging approximately 25 seconds per vehicle per mile in some sections over a minute and a half. The cost of congestion includes stress for motorists, increased carbon emissions, poor air quality, and billions of pounds lost to the UK economy yearly. Mike Kane highlighted that RIS2 plans to widen the A5 into a dual carriageway were scrapped last year by National Highways, leaving local areas disappointed with the lack of progress on increasing capacity on the A5.

  • Theo Clarke Con Milton Keynes North

    I thank my hon. Friend for highlighting the importance of the A5 to residents and businesses in Staffordshire and across the Midlands, and agree that protecting the environment and green belt is crucial alongside tackling congestion. Commented on the importance of upgrading the A5 as it acts as a relief valve for the M6 during traffic incidents. Noted that without investment, growth in investment could be inhibited along the corridor.

Government Response

Trudy Harrison

The Government recognises the role of the A5 as a key piece of infrastructure supporting local areas. £24 billion is being spent on motorways and trunk A roads from 2020 to 2025, including operation, maintenance, renewal, and improvements for network performance. The Minister highlighted discussions about lowering carriageways near low bridges, incorporating evidence into RIS3 for the proposed A5 Hinckley to Tamworth scheme with a cost exceeding £1 billion, and working on schemes like Dordon to Atherstone and safety improvements on A5 Northampton Road. She reassured MPs that National Highways will continue to work closely with local authorities and stakeholders to understand and deliver needed improvements.

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