CALLS have been made for a slice of the £25billion roads budget to be spent on improving Harwich’s deteriorating stretch of the A120.

Sir Bernard Jenkin, Harwich and North Essex’s MP, says he is lobbying for the Government to make sure the east of Colchester stretch of the A120 to Harwich is “brought up to scratch”.

Sir Bernard said: “It is welcome news the Government is investing heavily in road repairs.

“There are too many potholes and I am often contacted by road users who cannot understand why these hazards are not being repaired.

“It is also good to see money going into motorway maintenance.”

The billions of pounds set aside for roads was announced by Chancellor Philip Hammond in his Autumn Budget speech on Monday.

The National Roads Fund - paid for by road tax - includes £25.3billion for motorways, trunk and A-roads.

Sir Bernard added: “But our other major roads, like the A120, must not be forgotten about.

“The east of Colchester stretch of the A120 to Harwich is in need of investment.

“I made this case to the Roads Minister earlier this year and I will be writing to him to press the case again in light of the announcements in the budget.”

Sir Bernard also called for some of the cash to be used for a feasibility study on dualling the A120 from Hare Green to Harwich.

Witham’s MP Priti Patel is also pressing the Government put the roads budget into improving the A120 and A12.

She said she will push for much needed investment in the A120 for the dualling scheme, the progression of the A12 widening scheme and the upgrading of the Great Eastern Mainline.

The Chancellor also announced local authorities will receive £420 million to fix potholes on roads and renew bridges and tunnels, and there will be a £150 million to improve local traffic hotspots such as roundabouts.

The investment is 66 per cent higher than the previous five-year plan’s £15.2 billion, which former Chancellor George Osborne announced in his 2015 Budget.

Sir Bernard added the most significant news from the budget is the additional funding for the NHS.

He said: “By 2020 the Government will be investing an extra £350 million per week in the NHS, and I will be pressing for more services to be available at the Fryatt as the funding increases.”