M49 Severnside Junction

That this House notes with concern that nearly seven years ago National Highways constructed a junction with no slip road on the M49 near Severnside, since dubbed the Ghost Junction by the press; further notes that South Gloucestershire Council secured £7 million from the Department for Transport to connect the junction and is on track to complete the works by the end of 2026; is concerned that National Highways has now told stakeholders that the junction is not safe for use, has given no timeframe for a remedy and does not expect to provide further information until the autumn; observes that, in the meantime, heavy goods vehicles continue to travel through local villages and hamlets, causing significant damage to local roads; deplores that a public body was permitted to build a junction without a slip road and leave the council to complete the work; also notes that no body other than the Government is able to hold National Highways to account; is further concerned at the risk to the public purse arising from the proposed mitigation works, including the possibility that subcontractors become insolvent before completion; and calls on the Government to conduct a review of the situation and to hold National Highways to account.