Norfolk Chamber added its voice to that of our regional MPs in stating that a 5 year delay on the start to the A47 improvement works is way too long.
Caroline Williams, Chief Executive of Norfolk Chamber said: “It is the business community that will deliver jobs and economic prosperity in Norfolk and delays in delivering the vital infrastructure improvements will be to the detriment of Norfolk’s economic wellbeing.”
“Greater accessibility is key to ensuring that the Norfolk business community can compete on a national level and infrastructure improvements in Norfolk will open up opportunities for local businesses to deliver more economic growth, housing and jobs for our County.”
The A47 Alliance has been advised that construction on some of the upgrading work (announced in December 2014the Autumn Statement) may not commence for 60 months, with delays expected whilst land is acquired and plans are drawn up.
Peter Aldous (MP for Waveney) co-ordinated a letter signed by Conservative MPs along the A47 route, to the A47 Alliance expressing their concerns and stating that the work is needed to address congestion and accident black spots and should be completed “as soon as practically possible”. The MPs’ letter also warned that delays could prejudice a future funding bid for funding to see the whole route become a dual carriageway.
The A47 Alliance has a meeting scheduled with Highways England – the new body responsible for building roads and it is expected that they will be advising Highways England that the timeline is too long and faster action is needed.
The MPs’ letter also urged the A47 Alliance chairman Roger Foulger to speed up the process. Mr Foulger advised that the A47 Alliance would be pushing Highways bosses for more action on the route. He said “Clearly one of the items on the agenda is the timeline. Now we have had the funding for Norfolk and Cambridgeshire, we want to see an earlier start on it.”
“What we are looking at is an earlier start on is for example the Burlingham to Blofield stretch. The message we got in the Autumn Statement was here is the money, now get on with it. But basically it is the procedures which the Highways Agency say they have to go through, such a land acquisition and all the rest of it, takes a really lengthy period of time. What I, and other members of the alliance, want to see is this period of time come down and an earlier start made.”
A DfT spokesperson said: “The Department announced a package of A47 improvements worth over £300 million in December 2014. Highways England will be working with stakeholders including the council to deliver the schemes as quickly as possible.”
