An MP claims ‘Leamington has been paralysed’ due to roadworks and has taken residents’ concerns to parliament.
Warwick and Leamington MP Matt Western has bemoaned the disruption caused by Network Rail and Warwickshire County Council’s Princes Drive works.
An effective one-way system has been in place since January due to a lane closure and diversion on the road.
It has resulted in gridlocked traffic which, at times, stretches all the way up to the town centre and into neighbouring Warwick.
The restoration of the railway and accompanying roadworks are not set to be completed until the end of March.
And they will be followed by more disruptive repairs and diversions in the town.
Mr Western says he has received floods of emails about the ‘nightmare’ drivers and business are facing.
In a question to transport minister Trudy Harrison MP in the House of Commons, he said: “For over two months Warwick and Leamington has been literally gridlocked while the Conservative-led council and Network Rail have been painting a bridge.
“Drivers are fuming. Businesses have lost between 25 and 75% of their business.
“Ahead of the Commonwealth Games and additional works being done to our towns, would the minister agree to meet with me to ensure there is no repeat of this event?”
The minister said she would ‘look into’ the matter and write to Mr Western.
Mr Western then wrote on Facebook that more disruption lies ahead with additional works in Princes Drive up to Myton Road scheduled for April – to be followed by diversions due to construction on the Rugby Road railway bridge between April 14 and 19.
He continued: “Warwick and Leamington have been paralysed by congestion and suffocated by pollution.
“How can all these works have come at once and been so poorly timed?
“Why were works not completed during the pandemic and lockdowns when fewer motorists were on the roads?”
Mr Western says he has written to the county council and is awaiting a response.
A protest group calling itself ‘Toxic Leam’ previously called on Mr Western to press the county council into ending the diversion at weekends when construction work is paused.
In his post he urged council chiefs to respond to residents’ concerns and work for an immediate solution.
