A TRANSPORT minister has vowed to leave ‘no stone unturned’ in a safety review of the A34.

In a letter to Wantage MP Ed Vaizey, John Hayes said he instructed Highways England to provide an update on the review next month.

Mr Hayes ordered the probe last October after a series of fatalities on the A34 galvanised public support for new safety measures.

In his letter, sent on Tuesday, he said Government cash would be used to close a dangerous layby at South Hinksey and that funds would also be set aside to pay for improvements suggested by the review.

And ‘technology enhancements’ and junction improvements already planned, worth up to £50m, were ‘important major schemes, he said.

Mr Hayes wrote: “We have already delivered a number of schemes and have further proposals planned for the A34. I have been very clear to Highways England that it must leave no stone unturned in its work to identify viable options for the two schemes that are value for money and affordable.”

Mr Hayes added that a separate review due to be published in the spring would also seek to address capacity issues and planned developments along the dual carriageway.

This would form the basis of new spending plans due to commence in 2020, he said.

Yesterday Mr Vaizey said the comments were a welcome boost.