YEOVIL MP David Laws, is urging the Government to use the planned investment in the A303 to dual the entire stretch of the road east of the Blackdown Hills and to dual the section of the A358 running from Ilminster to the M5.

It was announced earlier this month that money will be made available in the Autumn Statement to help improve the A303 road, but precise details of the plans have not yet been finalised. Mr. Laws says he has "strongly supported" the campaign to dual the A303 east of the Blackdown Hills since being elected back in 2001.

During that time he has also called for an extra carriageway to be added to the stretch of the A358 running from Ilminster to the M5.

In the last few months David has met with both the Transport Secretary, Patrick McLoughlin MP, and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander MP, to discuss the need for improvements to the A303 and A358 roads ahead of this year’s Autumn statement.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg visited Ilminster earlier this month to see first-hand the problems faced by motorists using the A303 road and to look at potential solutions to these problems with local business leaders.

Mr. Laws said: "I am of course delighted that we have managed to secure money to improve the A303, but any investment must allow us to put in place a fully costed plan to dual the A303 east of the Blackdown Hills as well as the stretch of the A358 running from Ilminster to the M5.

"I have been campaigning, along with Liberal Democrats in the region, for the dualling of the entire stretch of the A303 east of the Blackdown Hills for many years now. It is the only way to ensure that motorists get the road they need and that the South West gets the transport infrastructure it deserves. We have been relying on a predominantly single carriageway road for far too long, and that simply has to change.’ "The Autumn Statement needs to set out how this money will be used to dual the road east of the Blackdown Hills, a move which will benefit our local economy and dramatically cut journey times for motorists, many of whom who rely on the A303 on a daily basis.’ The Autumn Statement will be made on December 3.