FOREST of Dean MP Matt Bishop has renewed pressure on National Highways over the ongoing A40 Over Bridge works after writing to the organisation outlining concerns raised by residents, businesses and emergency services.

In the letter, Mr Bishop said he had been contacted by a significant number of constituents reporting severe delays, with people missing work, school and hospital appointments because of the traffic disruption.

He also highlighted concerns from health professionals who warned patients had missed appointments or arrived late, while some residents had been forced to pay for accommodation near hospitals or cover childcare costs to attend essential treatment.

The MP said reports suggested emergency service vehicles had struggled to reach incidents quickly because of congestion, despite earlier assurances that emergency access would be maintained throughout the works.

Mr Bishop called on National Highways to review whether current traffic management measures were sufficient and asked for additional mitigation where needed to ensure emergency vehicles could travel through the area without delay.

He also questioned why some roadworks appeared inactive despite lengthy lane closures remaining in place, asking for greater clarity on construction timescales and whether the programme could be shortened.

The letter requested weekly or fortnightly meetings between National Highways and his office so he could relay residents' experiences directly and receive regular progress updates.

Alongside the letter, Mr Bishop has launched a dedicated WhatsApp travel updates channel, which he said would keep residents informed about developments relating to the A40 works and his efforts to push for improvements.

Posting on social media, Mr Bishop said he had written to National Highways "reiterating the urgency" of local concerns and promised to continue pressing for solutions that would reduce disruption for the communities and businesses relying on the busy route every day.