Ask most businesses in Norfolk what they need to help them to create improved economic growth and deliver more jobs and the majority will say improved road infrastructure would be a good start. Ask businesses in Great Yarmouth what they need and they will tell you improvements to the Acle Straight and improved links into the town and the port.
One of those improved links is a £112m third river crossing, identified five years ago, spanning 50m from the Southtown area to the South Denes area of Great Yarmouth. Supporters of this river crossing say it is crucial to cutting congestion, supporting regeneration and improving links to the town’s port.
The Chancellor, George Osborne, gave the go ahead to a river crossing in Lowestoft in March’s pre-election budget and Norfolk County Councillors fear that the Great Yarmouth equivalent may be in danger of being left behind. They are planning to lobby Norfolk’s MPs, with the support of New Anglia LEP to push the Great Yarmouth river crossing to the top of the agenda.
Colleen Walker, Chairperson of the County Council’s Economic Development Sub committee said:
“It is essential that the crossing happened.” She went on to say “We are going to lobby MPs for the money for the river crossing. We are shovel ready to go and this is vital not just for Yarmouth but for the rest of Norfolk. We cannot just sit on our hands.”
Commenting on the latest news, Andy Penman, President of Great Yarmouth Chamber Council said:
“Pressure needs to be stepped up over the third river crossing for Great Yarmouth. Norfolk Chamber will also call on our local MPs to lobby for the necessary funding to deliver the river crossing for Great Yarmouth. A crossing at this point would relieve traffic congestion, improve connectivity to the South Denes employment area and open up more regeneration opportunities, which are vital for the improvement of Great Yarmouth.”
