A453 widening 'is 'close to starting'

WORK on widening the A453 is closer to starting than ever before, a leading councillor has claimed.

Stella Smedley told a Notts County Council meeting yesterday that funding from the East Midlands Regional Assembly had been secured.

Last month the Post reported that the estimated cost of the project had risen from £90m to £168m, raising fears of further delays.

Coun Smedley, the council's transport and highways portfolio holder, said: "The A453 was identified as one of the region's priority schemes.

"There has been a review of the funding priorities but I am pleased to report the funding has been guaranteed."

She said work was due to start in 2010 after a public inquiry into the project next year.

She said: "We have never been this close (to beginning work) before."