A SENIOR member of Theresa May’s government visited Swindon yesterday to look at the impact of “record levels” of investment in roads and infrastructure.

Transport secretary Chris Grayling met council leader David Renard, South Swindon MP Robert Buckland and others as he took a tour of some of the town’s major infrastructure projects.

Councillors gave the secretary of state a glimpse of the transformation of Junction 16 and took the opportunity to lobby him for further funding to improve the White Hart junction of the A419/A420.

They also looked at ways to tackle congestion at the single carriageway A420 that links Swindon to Oxford in a bid to support new housing and boost the economy.

Mr Grayling said: “It was an excellent chance to see how our record levels of funding are helping ease congestion, support housing and boost the economy in Swindon.

“The Conservative team showed me what’s been achieved and I have assured them that, as transport secretary, we are delivering the infrastructure to make the country fit for the future with nearly £48bn invested in rail.”

He added: “We’re working together to deliver long term decisions that will help maximise the potential of our country where successful businesses can flourish.”

Councillors also made the case to the minister to invest in a western access rail link that joins Swindon to Heathrow and for cheaper fares to London as part of the review of the Great Western franchise, and to consider funding for the Thamesdown Drive extension.

Councillor Renard said: “With electrification and new trains, Swindon, the heart of Brunel’s railway, is already seeing the benefits of the UK’s largest investment programme since the Victorian era, which the Conservative government has overseen.

“As our transport links continue to improve, Swindon has a great role to play in the country’s economic future.

“Part of that means being allied to England’s Economic Heartland and I made the case to the secretary of state that we need to improve road and rail links from Swindon to Oxford, Milton Keynes, Cambridge and Norwich.”

But Labour raised serious questions about the administration’s record, saying it was “laughable” that the Tories were “getting Swindon moving”.

Jim Grant, leader of the Labour Group, said: “It is interesting they are pointing to the J16 works given their recent mismanagement of the project that has caused the scheme to overspend by £760,000.

“The White Hart Junction scheme also includes a new bridge over the A419 costing £23m that will only be used by busses. How is that easing the traffic?

“The Conservatives have also spent millions redesigning the Greenbridge Roundabout which people in Stratton St Margaret say has made traffic worse not better.”

He called for the people of Swindon to “give their verdict on the Conservatives’ local record on traffic management” at the council elections in May.