PRIME Minister David Cameron has announced that money will be set aside to improve the A303 road in the Autumn Statement next month.

The news comes just days after Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg visited Ilminster and said he would dig up the road himself if no money was allocated in the Budget.

Mr Clegg came to see the problems first hand and to hear the concerns of councillors and Yeovil MP David Laws, who have been pushing the Government for a dual carriageway for years.

Councillors have been rejoicing at the announcement, saying it will boost the local economy and cut journey times dramatically.

Mr Cameron made the statement on Monday at the Confederation of British Industry annual conference in London.

He said the “biggest, boldest and most far-reaching road improvement programme in four decades” will be at the heart of the Autumn Statement. “

Action to improve some of the most important arteries in our country – like the A303 and the A1 – which for too long have held parts of our country back,” he said.

“And all underpinned by over £15billion worth of investment.”

Although details of where work will take place along the road are yet to be revealed, campaigners in South Someret hope to see the A303 east of the Blackdown Hills dualled.

Mr Laws said: “Here in the South- West we have spent many years telling people that the A303 road needs to be improved, for our local businesses and for everybody who relies on this transport link.

“The only way to deal with the awful congestion which causes motorists terrible delays on a regular basis is to invest in the road and dual the entire length of the A303 east of the Blackdown Hills.

“I am delighted that, with the Liberal Democrats in Government, we have finally been heard and that money will be set aside in the Autumn Statement to improve the road and tackle a problem which has gone on for far too long.”

Mr Laws has also called for an extra carriageway to be added to the A358 running from Ilminster to the M5.

He told the News: “The A358 is a crucial trunk road for people living in Chard and Ilminster and Taunton and we need infrastructure to improve it.”

But Ric Pallister, Leader of South Somerset District Council, said he would be holding his breath until the announcement was formally made.

“We’ve heard before that money will be given to improve the roads and it hasn’t happened, so for me I won’t believe it until I see the diggers out.

“I do think they are serious about doing work but they need to tackle Stonehenge and get a plan in place that will tackle all of the road over the next five years so that we have a decent arterial road to Somerset.”

Tim Carroll, Deputy Leader of the district council, said its priority was for work to take place in areas that would improve the lives of people who live in South Somerset.

He added: “From our point of view, we want to see the area from Sparkford to Ilchester dualled, a separate junction at the Cartgate/Podimore area and dualling on the A358.”

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

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

“If money isn’t allocated to improve the A303 in the Autumn Statement I will come down and dig up the road myself.”

Graham Cole, chairman of AgustaWestland and deputy chairman of the Confederation of British Industry in the South-West, agreed.

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.