Standing up for a safer A34

Over the past few months, one issue has come up again and again in conversations with residents - the safety of the A34 slip roads.

Many of you told me you avoid these junctions entirely. Others shared deeply worrying experiences - from close calls with HGVs to the feeling that every journey onto the A34 is a roll of the dice. The message couldn’t have been clearer: something needs to change.

That’s why I’ve joined forces with Olivia Bailey, MP for Reading West and Mid Berkshire, and Olly Glover, MP for Didcot and Wantage, to take your concerns to Parliament. Today we co-sponsored a new A34 Slip Road Safety (East Ilsley and Beedon) Bill - a cross-party effort to push for urgent improvements and send a strong message to the government.

My recent survey showed that over 90% of people consider these junctions unsafe. I have heard from you about poor visibility, short merging lanes, dangerous bends, and traffic volumes and so much more. These are serious concerns, and they demand action.

This is not a party-political issue – it’s about protecting lives. Together we’ve written to the Roads Minister, met with National Highways, and visited the sites in question. We’re pushing for both immediate measures (like better signage, resurfacing, and LED road studs) and longer-term investment through the next national roads strategy in 2026.

Fixing these junctions won’t happen overnight. But by working together across party lines and keeping the pressure up, we can ensure our communities are not ignored.