West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has claimed a ‘victory for local motorists’ as Highways England finally lifts lane closures which have caused extensive traffic delays for commuters. The lane closures on the M5 at junction 4a have caused long tailbacks through the county and Harriett has campaigned against the traffic management since the measures were first introduced 18 months ago. Drivers travelling towards Birmingham should now have easier journeys after the agency removed the concrete block and cones reducing the M5 to just one lane at the M42 junction. The artificial pinchpoint was installed to deter motorists from driving north on the M5 by creating delays for drivers backing into the county, sometimes as far as Worcester. Highways England finally agreed to remove the cones after many months of campaigning by Harriett on behalf of many constituents who complained about long delays on the M5. Harriett commented: “This is a great victory for local motorists and I am glad that Highways England has finally seen sense. “I have always challenged their decision to inconvenience local drivers by creating these delays, especially after they spent so much money installing new motorway gantry signage. “The whole process has been disappointing for commuters and I hope that Highways England choose to learn from this process and consult local people better before adopting such nonsensical approaches to traffic management.”