MULTI-MILLION pound improvements to a strategic road network have been welcomed by council and business leaders who say it will boost the economy in south Dorset.

Government funding will upgrade the A303 transport corridor as part of a £2billion roads investment strategy.

The road runs through Somerset and Wiltshire but also passes through the very north of Dorset.

Dorset County Council has lobbied the government for the ‘whole route improvement’ of the A303 corridor, as part of a group of local authorities led by Somerset County Council.

The A358 route from the A303 to the M5 at Taunton will also see improvements. This provides strategic connections to the north and will benefit businesses in south Dorset, including Portland Port.

Now improvements are needed to the A37 to Yeovil, council chiefs say.

Dorset County Council Cabinet member for Environment and the Economy, Peter Finney, said the announcement about the A303 upgrade was ‘excellent news’.

He said: “Dorset County Council and the Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) both support improvement to the whole of the A303/A358.

“Recent economic studies suggest that major improvements to the A303/A358 corridor could inject £41billion into the South West’s economy and create in excess of 21,000 jobs regionally.

“The benefit to Dorset itself could amount to £4.7 billion, with tourism benefits of up to £2.6 billion.”

He added: “In Somerset, dualling the A303 between South Petherton and Ilminster plus the A358 between Ilminster and the M5 junction 25 at Taunton will improve the north-south route, critical for freight traffic accessing Dorset’s ports at Portland and Poole.

“To fully maximise the benefits to Dorset’s economy further improvements to the A37/A3088 south and west of Yeovil will also be needed, as identified in the Dorset LEP Strategic Economic Plan.

“Capacity and junction enhancements to the A303 in Wiltshire will also enable further expansion of Gillingham and Shaftesbury, specifically benefiting the economy of North Dorset.”

North Dorset MP Bob Walter believes improvements to the A303 are essential to support local business and future growth.

He said: “The announcement has been long-awaited and will be welcomed by all across north Dorset dependent on the A303, not to mention the millions of visitors who suffer congestion each year.”

‘Major improvement for businesses’

THE Chief Executive of Dorset Chamber of Commerce, Ian Girling, said: “It’s widely recognised our road system has suffered from major under-investment over the years.

“It’s essential we have an effective road network across the South West and these planned developments on the A303 would be a major development for businesses across the region.

“The road network across the region is highly congested and a barrier to business and we welcome these proposals.”

Julie Cleaver, president of the Weymouth and Portland Chamber of Commerce, said: “Anything that is going to open up Dorset to the rest of the country is going to be good for Dorset.”

She added that although the road improvements benefit the South West region, businesses in Dorset may only be partially affected.

“I’m not sure about the direct impacts this will have on businesses in Weymouth and Portland, but bringing more people to the region will be a benefit.”

Steve Davies, CEO at Portland Port, said: “Any road improvement is great news and will benefit the port.”