Bromsgrove MP Bradley Thomas writes for the Standard.
I AM continuing to work hard on the issues that matter most to you.
One issues is the continuing impact the A38 Bromsgrove Route Enhancement Programme (BREP) on residents and businesses.
Since being elected, I’ve been holding Worcestershire County Council to account over BREP.
I recent met with county councillor Sam Evans and a small group of residents to discuss their concerns over changes made to Regents Park Road on the Oakalls.
As part of BREP, changes were made to traffic flow at the entrance to the estate from Slideslow Island into Regents Park Road with the creation of a new priority give way area.
These changes have made congestion and journey times far worse.
The county council says it is listening to residents’ concerns.
If so, it would immediately reverse the Regents Park Road changes.
Following my meeting with residents, my next step is to get the county council’s Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Highways and Transport down to the Oakalls to see first-hand the impact of the changes.
As I have said before, if this project does not lead to tangible improvements in keeping Bromsgrove moving and in reducing the congestion after all the money that has been spent and after all the frustration it has caused, we will all be asking the same question: ‘what was the point?’.
Another big issue I have continued to focus on has been the future of our high streets, town and village centres.
A key part of My Plan for Bromsgrove and the villages is to ensure our town and village centres are fit for the future.
We all want to see new investment in our high streets – and businesses do too.
That is what I discussed at my recent meeting with Jon Hinton from the Hinton Group.
Based in Bromsgrove, Jon and his team deliver commercial, retail and hospitality investments.
You will have seen their work as the Hinton Group developed the Waitrose store in Bromsgrove.
Jon is Bromsgrove born and bred and he wants to see his hometown thrive. And so do I.
I look forward to working with Jon, the business community and partners to drive new investment into Bromsgrove and the villages.
