THE A303 should be the government’s top priority, despite calls to scrap improvements over fears it will devastate the environment, according to South Somerset’s MP.

The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) recently published a report which claims that road-building fails to provide the congestion relief and economic boost promised, while devastating the environment.

But South Somerset MP Marcus Fysh has hit back at the claims, saying that the transport benefits of the dualling scheme are more than twice the cost.

The row comes after it was revealed Highways England is reviewing 16 projects across the UK over fears they are not cost effective.

However, the authority has not revealed which schemes are under threat.

Cllr Fysh said: “Dualling the A303 and A358 between the M3 and M5 will bring many jobs to the South West and dramatically improve road safety.

“County council work, which I encouraged in 2013 to make the case for reviving the project, showed that the direct transport benefits of making the whole road a dual carriageway expressway were more than twice the cost, even before taking account of the wider benefits to our local economy.

“This means it should continue to stack up very well under any review and requirement for value for money.

“I have written to Secretary of State Chris Grayling to remind him of the detail of this and invite him to come again to Somerset to see the benefits, and I will make sure the A303/358 dualling project remains top priority for the Government.

“It is proceeding on schedule with its first three sections being prepared for ground work to start in 2019/20, after the proper consultation, permission and procurement phases that are required by law.

“Great care is being taken throughout this process to minimise the impact on the environment and take local concerns into account.”

The new report from CPRE is based on an independent review of completed road schemes and titled ‘The end of the road?’ Chris Lewis, chairman of CPRE Somerset branch, said there are many problems with the scheme.

“We are seeing a prime example of this flawed transport policy here in South Somerset, where the Highways Agency is consulting on two options to widen the A303 from Sparkford to Ilchester,” he said. “One of these options would destroy high quality farmland in a peaceful valley and disturb ancient woodland and registered parkland.

“The other option would follow the existing route but is hugely expensive and leaves many unanswered questions about how much land will be taken up, the effect on local communities and what, if any, economic impact there will be for this part of Somerset.

“CPRE Somerset rejects both options and would prefer to see any funding invested in repairing potholes in existing roads, noise mitigation measures and supporting sustainable transport.”

Ralph Smyth, head of infrastructure and legal at CPRE, said: “The Government is keen to sell the biggest road-building programme since the 1970s, but this is a programme that will forever fail on its own terms, producing a depressing, self-perpetuating cycle of more and more roads that do little for the economy and harm the countryside.

“Rather than looking to the past, the Government must invest in a forward looking mobility strategy that puts quality of life ahead of the car.

“The Government should reopen old rail lines, offer people travel options in town and countryside, and harness new technology to make more efficient use of road space.”