THIS week it was back to Parliament after a two-week Easter recess and straight into the next stage of the high-profile High Speed 2 Bill – a major investment designed to make all regions of the UK more attractive to investment.

I cannot help but be reminded of the parallel with the A303 and the need for investment in the road network around Stonehenge in order to unlock the long-term benefits associated with reduced travel times for business people and tourists.

If we want the south-west to be more accessible, we need to consider the A303 alongside the viable alternative routes to Cornwall – routes that have patently not proved as resilient as hoped over the recent wet winter.

I was surprised to see at the end of last week that, unexpectedly given my discussions with the organisation, the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England (CRRE) senior transport consultant express the view that traffic on the A303 has not increased over the last ten years.

He went on to say that, while he does not favour a tunnel, he nevertheless considers it preferable to all the other dualling options.

This looks to me like an endorsement of the “do nothing”

approach – not an option favoured by the people living in the area and experiencing traffic gridlock on a regular basis.

Although, as I frequently explain to constituents, I do not have a vote on planning matters, I nevertheless try to keep on top of upcoming major applications and familiarise myself with the issues at stake.

I therefore went to Asda’s public presentation at Hampton Park Pavilion to learn about the supermarket’s London Road proposals. It seems to me that our planners have some difficult decisions ahead of them with regard to retail applications and must be mindful that, while it is growing, Salisbury’s capacity to support new stores is not unlimited.

I am always keen to support community initiatives and it was a delight to see the community-run Chalke Valley Stores nominated for The Countryside Alliance’s Rural Oscars and to welcome their representatives to the Houses of Parliament for the finals on Wednesday.

At the time of writing, the result is unknown but I very much hope that, by the time you read this, we will have been able to celebrate a well-deserved victory.