By Danielle Morris 

THE deputy Prime Minister has promised that if no money is given to improve the A303 and the A358 in the Autumn statement next month, he will come down with a digger and start tearing up the roads himself.

Mr Clegg paid a visit to Monk’s Yard, Ilminster this morning, (November 7) to visit Yeovil MP David Laws and key members of South Somerset council and businesses.

The A303 is one of five roads competing for funding in the last Autumn Statement before the general election.

Mr Laws had invited Mr Clegg down to hear the pleas and concerns of cllrs who have been trying to push for improvements along the road from as far as from Stonehenge.

The MP has been backing the campaign to make the A303 two lanes either way east of the Blackdown Hills and he also wants to see the A358 between Ilminster and the M5 at Taunton dualled.

It is hoped that funding could be used to create a dual carriageway to improve traffic flow.

South Somerset Council leader Ric Pallister, deputy leader cllr Tim Carroll and district cllr Carol Goodall spoke to Mr Clegg about their concerns for the road.

They told the News: “The A303 is the gateway to the South West and cllrs have been trying to push for money to improve the roads.

“Traffic is getting worse and is having an impact on residents here in South Somerset and their safety.

“People used to say that it was just in the summer or particularly on Sunday and Friday evenings but that is no longer the case – the A358 is backed up both ways with traffic pretty much every Friday and Sunday.

“It has been frustrating to see other places in the country be given funding and for us to always miss out, we feel neglected.

Mr Clegg said he could understand frustrations. “It is dangerous for people coming down the A303 at the moment because as soon as people see an opportunity to overtake, they do and that causes accidents,” he said.

“The Liberal Democrats have been pushing for improvements to be made to the A303 for years now and I am determined that action happens.

“I have been speaking to the chancellor ahead of the Autumn Statement about this and showing how crucial this is for the South West peninsula.

“The South West is a beautiful part of the country that deserves to be given the economic dynamism as London and the South East.

“If an announcement is not made in the Autumn Statement to give money then I will be down here with my own digger.”

Mr Laws added: “I’m really pleased that Nick Clegg has come down today to see and hear for himself why we are pushing for the A303 and A358 to be given funding.

“The A358 is a crucial trunk road for people living in Chard and Ilminster and Taunton and we need infrastructure to improve them.

“If we are given the funding then we need to get on as soon as possible with putting a plan and timeframe in place to get the work done.

“I believe improvements would make businesses already in Chard and Ilminster want to push themselves in expanding further.

“I believe it would also see the creation of new business, people think we here are a long way out from London and Bristol but improved roads would encourage businesses and I think that would be good for our residents and our economy.”

Graham Cole, chairman of AugustaWestland and deputy chairman of the Confederation of British Industry in the South West agrees.

He said: “This is something which comes up as a concern for businesses time and time again and any investment along that stretch of road would be good news for all of us.”

• The Autumn Statement will be made on December 3.