Key junction 'clogged and costing us money' - report

Gibbet Hill, where the A5 and A426 meet, struggles with congestion on a day basis, according to Midlands Connect

A critical junction at the heart of the Midlands' "golden logistics triangle" is causing delays, costing firms money and bad for the environment, business leaders have said.

Regional transport body Midlands Connect asked for feedback about Gibbet Hill, where the A5 and A426 meet, to help make a case to government for improvements to the junction.

One firm has said it should be able to reach 90% of the population in four hours, but it is often nearer four-and-a-half due to Gibbet Hill, while another said it paid £2.75m towards an upgrade in May 2023, but was still waiting for work to start.

National Highways said it would look into upgrading the junction on Leicestershire's border with Warwickshire, but could not guarantee changes would be made.

Gibbet Hill sits south of Magna Park near Lutterworth and inside the so-called Midlands' "golden logistics triangle", where a number of warehouse and logistics companies have made their home due it its central location.

Gibbet Hill sits at a central point of the so-called "golden logistics triangle" which covers a large section of the Midlands

Responding to the consultation about the junction, Jo Russell, planning director at Stoford Developments, said: "From Gibbet Hill and the area round it, you can get to 90% of the population within four hours.

"Although in reality it might be more like four-and-a-half hours because you have to queue to get into and out of the golden triangle."

Gwyn Stubbings, senior planning director at GLP Europe, added: "In May 2023, GLP made a £2,750,000 financial contribution towards an improvement scheme to the Gibbet Hill junction.

"As the second anniversary of this payment approaches, it appears that very little progress has been made towards delivering an improvement scheme to support the existing business operations at Magna Park."

And Mark Gillot, senior transport manager at Panic Transport, said: "We all want to be more environmentally-friendly these days in terms of the fuel, drivers will burn more in the time it currently takes at the junction."

'No guarantee'

A Midlands Connect spokesperson said: "These first-hand experiences of the congestion really demonstrate the need for improvements.

"We know during peak times, the volume of traffic is close to, or exceeding traffic capacity and the resulting in delays are impacting residents, businesses and commuters."

A National Highways spokesperson said: "We're assessing the A5/A426 Gibbet Hill junction to consider if there are any options for potential improvements to address congestion and delays, which could in turn help make the A5 a more reliable strategic route.

"As part of this work, we're engaging with key stakeholders, including Midlands Connect, key business groups in the region, local authorities and MPs to ensure their feedback and local intelligence is considered.

"These potential interventions are, however, at very early stages of development with no guarantee they'll be taken forward into construction.

"All National Highways funding is subject to the Secretary of State's spending review and so the status of any scheme can't be confirmed until this concludes."