News

Dr Phillip Lee calls for investment in wider M4 and new hospital

By Hugh Fort
January 02, 2013

The need for a wider M4 motorway and a new hospital serving people in the Thames Valley was raised in Parliament by Bracknell MP Dr Phillip Lee.

Dr Lee called for the Government to support funding for improvements to the region's infrastructure in a debate on the Growth and Infrastructure Bill on Wednesday, December 17.

The proposed bill could deliver a £1 billion's worth of investment to local authorities across the country and Dr Lee wanted to know whether the cash would be used for improvements in the Thames Valley.

He asked Nick Boles, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary from the Department for Communities and Local Government:“I had the good fortune to be born in the Thames Valley and I represent a constituency in the Thames Valley.

"In my lifetime, I have watched tens of thousands of homes being built and many industrial estates and business parks.

"The M4 motorway has never been widened and the hospital has never been built to serve the community that has grown so much.

"Can my Honourable Friend confirm that the levy to which he refers goes towards a new motorway and a new hospital?

"My region desperately needs them.”

Mr Boles responded: “It will be for my Honourable Friend’s Local Authority to specify the infrastructure.

"Those are good examples.

"The money could go towards a hospital, a school, drains or whatever is required.

"He is right that that has not been available previously.”

Afterwards Dr Lee said: "“I am delighted the Government acknowledges that our region has not received the improvements in infrastructure that it so desperately needs.

"Furthermore, I am grateful for the Minister’s confirmation that the money could be used to widen the M4 and to support my proposal to build a new Royal Thames Valley Hospital to replace much-loved but nonetheless ageing hospitals which are no longer fit for purpose.

"That is why I pledge to work with all Local Authorities across the region to secure the best possible improvements for the benefit of all people in the Thames Valley.”

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It's a bit rich, on a day when the Wokingham borough has been revealed as the best place in the country in terms of healthcare, and Bracknell the 20th best place in the country overall (of 405 areas), to complain that the Thames Valley is in desperate need of a hospital. Surely other areas are a higher priority?

Damiano_Tommassi, Wokingham
02/01/2013 at 17:00

Widening motorways is a poor tactic. All it does is create more demand and more traffic ~ it's already 6 lanes wide for heavens sake. More to the point would be reducing the demand/need to travel and educating car drivers so that they might actually use all of the lanes we already have.

Frank Chicken
02/01/2013 at 15:58

Agree PoneRana - Dr Who seems to forget what Bracknell actually needs!

He keeps pressing on with his hospital near Maidenhead - how about one for Bracknell seeing as by 2025 they want to build at least 10000 new houses!

As for road widening on the M4 how about the A329M and how congested it gets especially as this is the main route for Royal Berkshire

When can we vote this muppet out?

CMK
02/01/2013 at 15:02

Dr Lee lives near Maidenhead, practices as a GP once a month in Slough, what does he do for Bracknell..... Nothing. He needs to remember he was elected to represent the people of Bracknell not the Thames Valley. How about him doing something about the regeneration of Bracknell, that has been ongoing since my family moved here in 1970, the first phase was the development of Princess Square, the second was The Point.. The third was the supposed redevelopment of the town centre with a specialist Healthspace to be built by a private company, Ashley House. What has happened to that? Devote your efforts to the things that matter to the people of Bracknell, Education, Health and Employment.

Mumra, Bracknell
02/01/2013 at 15:00

So the Bracknell MP wants a new hospital close to Slough and a wider M4 that also services Slough. Guess where he practices as an GP.

Bracknell needs an MP that looks after the interests of the town not the area where he lives. How about expanding Heatherwood or Frimley Park, improving the M3 and its links and the local rail links? Has he noticed that the M3 is closer to his constuency than the M4?

PoneRana, Wokingham
02/01/2013 at 14:22

Apologies for the poor spelling in my last post! New Year blues.

Goldfish62
02/01/2013 at 13:53

Funny how our MP campaigns for widening of a raod that doesn't go through his constituency. Better he campaigned for an improved train service for Bracknell.

But I'm not suprised - I know full well where his priorities lie.