Update following meeting with National Highways

🚧 A52 Roadworks Update: Wheatcroft & Nottingham Knight

I was pleased to be part of a constructive meeting with James Naish for Rushcliffe National Highways National Highways: East Midlands and the A52 project team to discuss the significant disruption residents have experienced around Wheatcroft and Nottingham Knight.

I made sure the concerns residents have raised with me were heard, particularly the severe congestion, lengthy delays and the wider impact on people trying to get to work, school, healthcare appointments and essential services.

📅 What happens next?

The current works at Nottingham Knight are due to finish this week, followed by approximately two further weeks of utility works at Wheatcroft, potentially extending by another week.

Importantly, National Highways advised that there should be no major daytime traffic management from this scheme during December.

The next significant phase is planned for January, when an 18-week programme of utility and enabling works at Nottingham Knight is expected to begin.

🚧 Why are the cones and 40mph restrictions needed?

We specifically raised residents' questions about why coned areas and reduced speed limits remain in place.

National Highways explained that some of the work involves deep excavations around high-pressure gas mains and electrical cables, meaning work areas cannot simply be opened and closed each day.

They also explained that during some phases, lanes need to be narrowed or moved to create a safe working area. Reduced speed limits are therefore used to protect both road users and the workforce, particularly where vehicles are travelling through narrower lanes alongside live works.

However, I have asked that the restrictions continue to be reviewed as the works progress, so that traffic management and reduced speed limits are only retained where they remain necessary and safe.

🔍 Learning lessons before January

Both me and James were clear that we cannot simply repeat the level of disruption residents have experienced recently.

We have therefore asked National Highways to take the lessons learned from the current works and work closely with their contractor ahead of January to:

✅ Review the full 18-week programme and identify the most difficult pinch-point periods.

✅ Explore all reasonable mitigating measures, particularly during school-run and commuting peak periods.

✅ Review the proposed lane configurations and traffic management arrangements to see whether disruption can be reduced.

✅ Keep speed restrictions under review as the location and nature of the works change, while maintaining safety.

✅ Improve coordination with other roadworks in the surrounding area to minimise unnecessary clashes.

✅ Provide much clearer advance information telling residents where the works will be, when they will happen and how long restrictions are expected to last.

I welcome the fact that National Highways acknowledged that there are lessons to be learned from the recent disruption and have committed to reviewing the January programme with their contractor.

We have also agreed to strengthen communication, including regular monthly meetings involving local councillors, James Naish MP and National Highways, giving us a direct opportunity to raise concerns and receive updates that we can share with residents. I will be providing updates to residents on a regular basis

The longer-term improvements to the A52 are much needed and are intended to increase capacity at these already congested junctions. At the same time, we must do everything reasonably possible to minimise disruption while those improvements are delivered.

I will continue working constructively with all stakeholders  to ensure residents are heard, kept informed and represented throughout the works. 

I will continue working constructively with all stakeholders to ensure residents are heard, kept informed and properly represented throughout the works.

As a  local Conservative, I am guided by the values of public service, personal responsibility and a strong commitment to our local communities. I believe being a ward councillor means listening, speaking up and making sure residents’ voices are heard, even when the challenges are difficult. That is what motivates me to keep pushing for answers, challenging where necessary and working constructively cross party  to get the best possible outcomes for the people I represent.