PM supports Bristol Emersons Green M4 junction campaign

Westerleigh Road goes over the M4 and the only way to get to the M4 from Emersons Green is via the M32

Efforts to get a new motorway junction at the M4 in north Bristol have received support from the prime minister.

During Prime Minister's Questions (PMQ's) on Wednesday, the Conservative MP for Kingswood called on David Cameron to "look closely at the campaign and a case for an M4 link".

Mr Cameron agreed "better transit schemes" were needed for Bristol.

MP Chris Skidmore will also launch a campaign for the junction on Friday.

In the Commons, Mr Skidmore said the new link road would "help deliver millions of extra investment, new jobs to the Bristol region and provide the Kingswood area with the access to the motorway it needs".

Mr Cameron said: "He is absolutely right, we do need to deliver better transit schemes in Bristol and I know the transport secretary will be happy to look at the campaign and the case he makes."

Campaigners say the ring road between Emersons Green and the M32 gets congested by traffic heading to the M4.

If a motorway junction was created at Westerleigh Road it would offer direct access to the M4 and speed up the traffic, supporters of the plan say.

South Gloucestershire Council rejected a new junction in 2000 in favour of improving public transport and cycling routes.

But it is now spending £80,000 on a feasibility study to examine the idea.