Local MP Maria Miller has called the delays to the completion of the Black Dam roundabout ‘completely unacceptable’. Speaking following the announcement by Highways England that the major roads works will now be completed in March 2016 Maria said, “This delay is causing chaos for residents and local business. It is worrying that traffic delays will now continue over the important Christmas period. I have asked Highways England to urgently meet local businesses to explain the situation and identify practical ways to support. For local retailers in particular the peak Christmas period is critical to their business success.
“The Borough Council’s Local Plan is proposing 9 more major roundabout upgrades in the next 4 years. Lessons need to be learnt from the Black Dam experience to rebuild trust with local business and residents. I have asked the M3LEP who funded the Black Dam works through Government Pinch Point Funding to consider holding an urgent review of the delay to this scheme to ensure similar problems are avoided in future.
“In the original plans these road works were due to be completed before the summer. Poor mapping of utilities has caused havoc from the start. There is no compulsion on utility companies to act quickly even if problems are caused by the poor mapping of their cables, pipes and ducts.
“The delays at Black Dam have been caused for the most part by the poor mapping of utility company assets. Electricity cables, water mains and telephone lines were not where they were meant to be and have had to be moved or plans modified to accommodate them. I have already written to the Government to ask how swifter cooperation between utility companies and Highways England can be made mandatory.”