Taunton, the county town of Somerset is one of the big winners in the latest round of Government Growth Deal funding. £6.7m has been allocated for the upgrade of the Toneway Corridor which links the busy M5, junction 25 with the town.
Taunton Deane MP Rebecca Pow has worked hard with a team of others to make a case for this funding:
‘I am so delighted that the Ministers and indeed the Chancellor himself have listened. This road can now be made fit for purpose to accommodate not only the current traffic but the anticipated increase in traffic with the urban extension at Monkton Heathfield which forms a key element of Taunton’s new Garden Town plans. For a sustainable future it is essential that infrastructure like this is in place.’
The Taunton funding is part of a £43.5m allocation for the wider South West and is part of the government’s commitment to bringing much needed infrastructure to the region, which has historically been underfunded by previous governments.
Connecting Devon & Somerset will also benefit from almost £10m to deliver 3 and 4G to the final 5% of the area that has so far not been reached.
‘Connectivity is essential for the region to prosper and fulfil its potential’ says Rebecca ‘this will be welcomed by individuals, farmers and rural businesses in remoter, hard to reach areas and I am pleased that the government has again listened to all the calls and realised the necessity of this service. Thanks to a strong economy this funding allocation has been possible.’