Stockton North MP, Alex Cunningham, has voiced concerns that the proposed A19 Tees Crossing could be “kicked into the long grass” following a reply from Transport officials to his query about the progress of the scheme.
Alex wrote to then Transport Secretary, Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP, in October seeking assurances the A19 Tees Crossing proposal was being considered by Ministers after it emerged that the project had been omitted from the Government’s “Growth Plan”. This week he received a response from the newly appointed Minister for Roads and Local Transport who only confirmed that an assessment would be made in early 2023 “alongside other projects”.
Alex said:
“The response from the Roads Minister doesn’t exactly fill me with confidence that the A19 Tees Crossing scheme – which has widescale local cross party and business support – will get the funding it needs to get off the ground, and I am fearful that the project will be kicked into the long grass for years to come.
“I understand that the scheme needs to be looked at alongside other priorities but this scheme is accepted to be a key driver in unlocking economic growth not just in across the Tees Valley but further afield. We need a positive answer sooner rather than later on this project which has been sitting on the side-lines for far too long, so that it can finally get moving.
“Earlier this week the Chancellor promised his Autumn Statement on Thursday “won’t be all bad news” – maybe he’ll promise the cash we need for this project and support growth in our area.”