New school must be built when money is there

I BELIEVE David Cameron and the Conservative Party, with the Liberal Democrats, have shown that we can come in, produce strong policies, deliver a very tough Budget and get to grips with our huge public spending deficit. But this should also be seen as an opportunity to plan for the future by learning from the mistakes of the past.

The Building Schools for the Future scheme was flawed from the beginning. It was supposed to cost £45 billion and ended up costing £55 billion. The people of Tiverton understand that the finances are such that we can’t build a new school at Tiverton High — but I made the point clearly in the House that when finances are available we must build a new school. Not only would it be good for Tiverton High but also for regeneration of Tiverton town.

But when we build it we must ensure we don’t gobble up 25 to 30 per cent of the overall cost in planning and bureaucracy, which was what happened under the Labour government.

The Government also needs to acknowledge the importance of the A303 to the economy of the West Country. The well overdue dualling of this vital route would provide relief to businesses and holidaymakers, who often get lodged in traffic just north of Honiton.

It is immensely valuable to our seaside towns, which rely on a seasonal influx of tourists, and equally important to businesses in Devon if they are to expand and export to the rest of the country. The A303 is only one of two major roads into the West Country and it has made us vulnerable to road closure on the M5, due to accidents and road works. The only alternative is the A303 which is not fit for purpose and liable to congest.

In 1997 the road was ready to be built but got a Labour government that stopped it.

There is a real desire in Devon for work to start as the plans are all ready — we could go ahead straight away if we had the money. As soon as the economic climate is right we must be in a position to start building on time and on budget or it will end up like other projects that have floundered and stalled due to bureaucratic inefficiency.