Councillor 'devastated' after A47 scheme axed

Marge Beuttell, a Huntingdonshire councillor, said she was unhappy with the change in plan

Councillors have criticised the decision to axe a scheme that would have seen a section of the A47 turned into a dual carriageway.

National Highways planned to make a 1.6-mile (2.5km) stretch between Wansford and Sutton, in Cambridgeshire, into double lanes.

However, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander later announced plans to cut the £100m project - and accused the previous Conservative government of promising infrastructure projects with "no plan to pay for them".

Huntingdonshire councillor Marge Beuttell, Conservative, said she was "devastated" by the news, and added: "The deaths that we've had [on the road]... seem to count for nothing."

She added: "I think they are making a big mistake by not doing it. It has been a danger area for years, and for me, they have not taken that into account."

Beuttell said the scheme looked as though it was going ahead until two months ago, and she was "appalled" it was cancelled.

"A lot of money has already been spent on this project, so I just don't understand why they're pulling it," she said.

"I think they are making a big mistake."

Councillors have raised concerns after the scheme was axed

Mick Grange, Sutton Parish councillor, said: "I've lived in the village for just over 30 years and I've seen numerous deaths along that stretch of road.

"Cyclists won't use it - it's just unsafe."

Grange said speed cameras and speed limits should be put in place to make the area safer.

Sam Carling, Labour MP for North West Cambridgeshire, said a lot of residents would be "really disappointed that the scheme isn't going ahead now", but was hopeful a positive solution would be found.

He added: "This may not have come as an immense surprise. The previous government did not leave us enough money to fund all of the schemes that they promised."

He continued: "I'm hopeful that there will be a positive way forward."