Somerset A303 and A358 widening 'not starting until 2020'

Upgrading the A358 will not begin for five years while the plans are reviewed

Widening the A303 and A358 routes in Somerset will not take place until at least 2020, Highways England has said.

The dual carriageway plan progress report was handed to Somerset County Council on Tuesday.

Highways England (HE) says it needs to review options, consult stakeholders and secure planning consent.

Cabinet member David Fothergill, said the timescale set out was "really disappointing," but added it was important the plans were "right".

An HE spokesman said: "Further consultation will also take place during the development of the preferred solution as part of the statutory requirements of the planning process to obtain development consent."

'Junction at capacity'

The roads scheme, which will take up to 14 years, was announced by the government in December.

The project involves upgrading the A303/A358/A30 corridor from the M3 to the M5 in Taunton, Somerset.

Due to the timescales, the county council said its plans to improve junction 25 of the M5 will continue.

Mr Fothergill, responsible for highways, said: "If you wait until the A358 bypass is built, then you have to wait five years before you get the upgrade on junction 25.

"We can't wait that long, that junction is at capacity and we really need to improve it in the short term."

Taunton Deane Borough Council is also planning to a build a hi-tech business park near junction 25. The county council has said it would incorporate these plans into the motorway junction upgrade.

"Highways England need to incorporate whatever we've done [on junction 25] into their planning for the A358 and they've indicated that they will," Mr Fothergill continued.

"We are at such an advanced stage now on junction 25, to stop it for us now will cause a real disappointment and causes more hassle that people really don't want."