Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

M1: Junction 28

11 January 2023 · 4 other contributors · 7,460 words

Opened by Mark Fletcher Con Bolsover

Responding minister: Richard Holden

TransportEnvironment

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Mark Fletcher raised concerns about m1: junction 28 in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • MP is concerned about the poor condition and safety of junction 28 on the M1, citing numerous delays, accidents, and environmental issues.
  • MP highlights air quality concerns due to stationary traffic and economic costs from daily traffic delays estimated at over 4.5 million annually.
  • Minister acknowledges the importance of junction 28 and ongoing government investment in Britain's road network, with 15.2 billion invested between 2015-2020 and plans for further analysis and study.

Key requests to Government

The MP asks the Government to urgently consider funding improvements for junction 28 as part of the Road Investment Strategy (RIS3), or ideally, to approve it immediately due to its clear benefits and alignment with levelling up objectives.

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 Fletcher Con Bolsover

The MP is concerned about the poor condition and safety of junction 28 on the M1, which has led to numerous delays, accidents, and environmental issues. He mentions that around 29% of local residents consider the junction very unsafe, with 41% considering it simply unsafe, highlighting a serious issue with air quality due to stationary traffic causing an 'environmental disaster'. Furthermore, he notes significant economic costs from daily traffic delays estimated at over £4.5 million annually.

Other contributors (4)
  • Esther McVey Con Tatton

    Order. We look forward to future debates on other junctions on the M1, but the question today is that this House has considered the potential merits of improvements to junction 28 of the M1.

  • Gill Furniss Lab Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough

    Ms Gill Furniss highlighted the importance of motorways to the British economy, expressing concern over the cuts in transport budget which have led to a backlog of repairs costing over £12 billion. She mentioned that preventive maintenance is 20 times less expensive than reactive maintenance and pointed out that nine in ten road users had experienced pothole issues within the past year.

  • Lee Anderson Reform Ashfield

    The speaker highlighted the importance of improving junction 28 for economic development and infrastructure in areas like Ashfield, Bolsover, and Amber Valley. He mentioned that businesses are setting up in the area but face substandard roads and a motorway junction that is not fit for purpose due to heavy traffic. Lee Anderson also called on the Minister to consider additional funding formulas for road repairs near major junctions and expressed frustration over cycle lane installations when more urgent infrastructure needs exist.

  • Nigel Mills Con Wygan and Leigh

    The congestion at M1 junction 28 is a daily problem, causing delays of several miles in every direction. It impacts the lives of people living near the A38 with noise and fumes during busy times. The economic case for improvements is compelling as it affects new housing and industrial development prospects. There are solutions that could be implemented without significant cost.

Government Response

Richard Holden

Mr Holden acknowledged the importance of junction 28 in connecting communities and stated that it is a crucial part of Britain's road network. He highlighted the significant investment made by the Government, with £15.2 billion invested between 2015-2020 and nearly double that amount for the current period until 2025. Mr Holden emphasised the ongoing work to prepare for the third road investment strategy (RIS3) beyond 2025, noting extensive analysis and preliminary study work on junction 28 by National Highways. He urged engagement with National Highways as its findings are shared, encouraging local stakeholders to continue advocating for improvements as RIS3 develops over the coming year.

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