Government transport ministers have announced a series of plans for major road works and resurfacing programmes. Local transport minister Norman Baker confirmed that work on a new link road in Taunton, Somerset, would go ahead in a bid to improve business connections in the area.

Baker said: “This important scheme will help to reduce traffic demand through the town centre and significantly improve access to the Firepool area, unlocking land for vital regeneration – encouraging economic growth and inward investment.”

Transport minister Stephen Hammond also gave the go-ahead for resurfacing of the M54 motorway with a new low-noise surface.

He identified the stretch between junction one at Cannock and junction two at Wolverhampton as a priority, as significantly more vehicles were expected to be drawn to the area after the creation of the new i54 business park.