PHOTO: Kate Kniveton MP campaigning for improvements to the A38 along with neighbouring MPs Heather Wheeler (South Derbyshire) and Michael Fabricant (Litchfield) back in 2021
Burton and Uttoxeter Member of Parliament, Kate Kniveton has applauded the news that Staffordshire County Council’s bid to the Government’s Levelling Up Fund Round 2 has been successful.
In an announcement made by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) this evening (18th January 2023) Staffordshire County Council has been granted £20m of transport related interventions with a focus on three key areas of the County, with one of those being identified as Burton.
The funding will allow the local authority to deliver major road infrastructure upgrades to the A38, aimed at improving the lives and journeys of local residents by cutting congestion, improving safety and driving opportunities for economic growth across East Staffordshire.
With an estimated price tag of £12m, one of the biggest aspects of this bid is to deliver major junction improvements to the Branston Interchange of the A38 with the A5121 to the southwest of Burton. The improvement scheme will see the construction of what is called ‘a grade separated junction’ to increase traffic flows from both trunk roads at the Branston Interchange, with improvements forecast to accommodate future traffic levels.
Another key element of Staffordshire’s successful bid is a package of investment in the A5121 corridor in Burton. The focus here is on highway maintenance investment as well as the installation of infrastructure to increase greener travel options. This will create opportunities to increase healthier travel options with electric and hydrogen powered buses under consideration as well as measures to priorities buses and improve journey time reliability.
A key feature of the Government’s Levelling Up Fund was that any submitted bid required the support of the local Member of Parliament. When the Leader of Staffordshire County Council, Cllr Alan White, approached the Burton MP with details of the bid, Ms Kniveton was enthusiastic in her support as improving the A38 is one of her key priorities.
Commenting, Kate Kniveton MP said:
“It is brilliant news that our Staffordshire area has been awarded £20million from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund to upgrade the local Major Road Network. As the MP for Burton, I’m particularly delighted that a lion-share of this allocation is for investment in Branston.
“When I was elected, I made improving the A38, a vital travel corridor between the West and East Midlands, a key priority, recognising the current issues residents face with this road on a daily basis. I’m pleased that this funding is yet another sign that we are making process on delivering on that pledge for better and safer roads.
“I want to congratulate the County Council for putting together a compelling bid and I look forward to continuing to work with them, National Highways and National Government as we now look to the construction of these important infrastructure upgrades.”
