8
Mar
Government pledges cash to repair battered Slapton Line
Transport Secretary Chris Grayling has promised £2.5m to
repair a vital road severely storm damaged last week.
The A379, between Torcross and Strete Gate, was partially
destroyed by Storm Emma and has been closed since last week.
The road is a key route and is essential for the local economy,
as it provides access to tourist hotspots including the beach and
Slapton Ley nature reserve.
Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said: “Good roads are
vital for keeping communities connected so people can get to work
or see friends and family.
“The recent winter storms caused significant disruption
right across the nation, but now we need to ensure we repair this
road is repaired as quickly as possible.
“We are giving Devon County Council funds to repair the
A379 so there is no long-lasting impact from Storm Emma on the
vitality and prosperity of this area.”
Devon County Council will be allocated £2.5m to ensure the
repairs to this damaged road, previously damaged by storms in 2001,
are undertaken as quickly as possible.
This funding is in addition to over £270m we are providing
for local highways maintenance and repairing potholes to Devon
between 2015/16 and 2020/21.
The Department for Transport will continue to work with the
council to see whether it can help improve resilience on this road
to help protect it from future damage.
MP Sarah Wollaston said: "I recognise how vital the Slapton Line
is to everyone in this area and following the damage by Storm Emma,
I immediately went to see the Secretary of State for Transport,
Chris Grayling MP to ask for assistance with the cost of rebuilding
the A379 which is damaged beyond repair in two long sections. I
then also raised this with Theresa May at PMQs and welcome the
confirmation from the government that the rebuild will be funded in
full with £2.5m, I hope this news is of some comfort to those
local communities still dealing with the aftermath of Storm
Emma.
"I am very grateful to all those who have been working hard as
part of the Slapton Line Partnership, and at our district and
county councils, to prepare for this by putting the necessary
planning permissions and ecological preparations in place in
advance. Hopefully this means that repair works can proceed as soon
as possible.
Lastly, thank you to all the emergency services, South Hams
District Council, Devon County Council and The Slapton Line
Partnership for their rapid and professional responses both to the
issues with the Slapton Line and the terrible conditions last
week."