AN ENHANCED multi-million-pound link road could be on the cards to better connect Southampton with western England.

Councils and businesses across the region have set out the case for better transport links between Southampton and the M4 corridor with plans to enhance the A35 and A36 roads between Chippenham and Bath and Southampton.

The case has been put forward as part of a South of England North-South Connectivity Prospectus, created by Bath and North East Somerset, Wiltshire, Dorset and Poole councils, together with local enterprise partnerships which lays out the economic needs for improved links.

Cllr Sean Woodward, a director of the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership said: “Salisbury is the main bottleneck on the route between south Hampshire and Bath so this is the greatest area that needs attention to bypass Salisbury.

“I watch would with interest to see how it develops, when you improve links between areas, you improve commerce which creates enhanced economic growth.”

Mark Miller, chair of the Hampshire Chamber of Commerce Planning & Transport Committee, added: “We support any improvements to road links from our south coast ports to the M4 corridor to improve freight movements.

“As a matter of priority we would wish to see the committed investment in the M3/A34 junction at Winnall, Winchester, implemented as soon as possible in order to ease this notorious bottleneck on our strategic road network.

“Once addressed this would allow more reliable freight links between Southampton Port and the M4/Midlands, which is vital for both region’s export/import businesses.

“At the same time, we are pleased to see continued expansion of rail freight services on this parallel route and continue to seek improvements to our rail infrastructure to support increased growth of these facilities via Salisbury, Basingstoke, and Reading.”

The report estimates that if the government adopted the scheme it could create 30,000 new jobs and generate a potential £20.5 billion into the region’s economy.

Royston Smith, Tory MP for Southampton Itchen, said: “Anything that improves connectivity is to be welcomed when our most significant pieces of national infrastructure, the Port of Southampton would benefit from better connectivity partially road and rail.”

Councillor Daryl Turner, Dorset County Council’s cabinet member for natural and built environment, said: “The South Coast’s economy has been artificially suppressed due to wholly inadequate transport links to our ports and markets, particularly from the north.  

“Improved links offer a huge potential for growth throughout the region.

“The government already acknowledges that an improved connection between the M4 and the South Coast is desperately needed; the time has come for them to commit to making it happen.”

Councils are asking ministers to mandate Highways England to commence a strategic study which could be considered by the government next year.

Cllr Bridget Wayman, cabinet member at Wiltshire council, said: “The increasing level of congestion is holding back the economic growth of the area including plans to create new jobs for the local communities.

“We have now created a compelling case for investment and seek the support of the Government to deliver these much-needed improvements.”

If the Government considers this proposal has sufficient potential to go forward it will form part of the next Road Investment Strategy in 2020.