Chamber News

Norfolk County Council is reminding motorists that the A47 will be closed in both directions at Postwick this weekend, as work to create a new bridge across the A47 continues.

Closures will begin at 8pm on Friday evening and the road will reopen no later than 6am on Monday April 27th.

When completed, the Postwick Hub scheme will increase the capacity of the A47 Postwick junction and provide access to new business and housing developments in the area.

Last weekend’s work finished ahead of schedule and the road was reopened early, but it is expected that this weekend’s work will require a full closure.

Traffic that cannot avoid this section of the A47 will be diverted as follows:

Eastbound (towards Great Yarmouth) A47 traffic heading east will be diverted on to the new access roads that will serve the expanded Broadland Business Park and new Broadland Gate business areas. This route includes five roundabouts before traffic rejoins the A47. Temporary traffic lights may be used to assist traffic flow.

Westbound (towards Dereham and King’s Lynn) A47 traffic heading west will have a shorter diversion, but this will pass through works on the new Oaks Lane roundabout and the major junction at the southern end of the existing and new (under construction) bridges over the A47.

During the weekend closures it will not be possible to cross the A47 southbound on the existing bridge to reach Church Road. Traffic wanting to head westbound out of the city will have to go via the A47 Cucumber Lane roundabout, using the main eastbound diversion.

Motorists are also being warned that the diversion route could also be delayedas new bridge beams are transported along the route in order to reach the A47. The County Council has done a large amount of work to keep residents and motorist aware of the Postwick project and warning signs about the closures are placed as far away as Newmarket bypass and King’s Lynn, to give motorists a chance to change their route.

This is the second of three weekend closures (Friday May 8 to Monday May 11 remains), with a fourth weekend (Friday May 15 to Monday May 18) in reserve in case of delays. There will be no closure on the early May bank holiday weekend.

Postwick Park & Ride will be closed on all weekend A47 closures at Postwick. The nearest alternative is Harford park and ride, at the A47 junction with the A140 Ipswich Road. Tim Ellis, Resident Engineer, Norfolk County Council, said: “We made a good start on the bridge construction last weekend and it was pleasing to be able to get the work done ahead of schedule and reopen the road early. This weekend we are lifting the northern bridge beams into place and due to the complexity involved we envisage that we will require the full Friday night to Monday morning closure. We are very grateful for the ongoing patience of motorists and residents. We’ve promoted the closures in advance, and tried to minimise the impact of the work as much as possible.”

For further information about the works and diversion routes visit www.norfolk.gov.uk

John Longworth, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce,has today (Tuesday 21 April) sent an open letter to the leaders of the main parties calling on them to focus on long-term growth and strategic vision over tactical headline-chasing. The full text of the letter is below.

“In December, I wrote to you – and theother UK party leaders – with a call from business to act responsibly during the election campaign, and put the UK’s long-term success over political tactics and point-scoring.

All the major parties responded with a clear commitment to act in the interests of the economy and growth. With only a couple of weeks left in this campaign, it is impossible to remain silent in the face of mounting evidence to the contrary.

While there are some encouraging statements and positive ideas in manifestos, on the campaign trail it seems strategic vision and evidence-led policy announcements have been left on the bus. In their place we’ve had tactical headline-chasing and lazy assumptions; a reliance on populist statements, not economic common sense; and niche policy announcements, rather than a focus on the fundamentals. For example, issues like how the UK earns its way in the world go unaddressed.

Worryingly, the parties are also taking it in turns to propose new interventions in markets. These measures simply serve to side-step regulators and experts, rather than strengthening their hand.

Parties are competing to make ever more strident pledges to freeze taxes and ring-fence spending for the life of the next Parliament, without being able to see very far down the economic road ahead. No well-run business would tie its hands in this way.

And, dishearteningly, we also have policy proposals that, if enacted, would undermine entrepreneurship, aspiration and business growth. We have heard ideas to raid pension savings, create new levies on companies, and limit the tax relief available for genuine wealth creators and small investors, to name but a few.

Constraining those willing to take the risks needed to grow businesses demonstrates a lack of leadership. It is counter-productive and deeply troubling.

In the final few weeks of the campaign, I urge you to bring the focus back to long-term growth. Businesspeople want to see a clear and unapologetic vision for the UK’s future success in an ever more competitive and dangerous world. Our shared prosperity depends on it.

Yours sincerely,

John Longworth

Director General

British Chambers of Commerce”

• In the three months to February 2015 employment rose by 248,000, while unemployment fell by 76,000
• The proportion of people aged 16 – 64 in work was 73.4%, the highest since record began in 1971
• The total unemployment rate fell to 5.6% and the youth unemployment rate declined to 16.1%
• Total pay including bonuses rose by 1.7% compared with a year earlier, while pay excluding bonuses rose by 1.8%.

Commenting on the labour market statistics for April 2015, published today by the ONS,David Kern, Chief Economist at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

“The latest figures continue to highlight the dynamism and resilience of the UK labour market. Rising employment levels and falling unemployment supports our view that the UK economy will record steady growth in the first quarter, despite the recent disappointing construction and production figures.

“And it is very welcome news that wage increases are now higher than inflation and are boosting living standards.

“However, challenges remain – we must address the youth unemployment rate. Although it continues to fall, it is still more than three times the national average.”

David Bharier, BCC Business Insight Manager said:

“The BCC’s Quarterly Economic Survey* shows a steady level of growth in employment levels since the 2008-09 recession, despite slight slowdowns in recent quarters.

“However, a majority of firms from both the manufacturing and services sectors struggle to find the right staff, with 69% and 65% reporting recruitment difficulties in the last three months, respectively.”

Norfolk County Council’s annual road surface dressing programme for 2015 starts today (Wednesday, 15 April) with gangs working in the Bradwell, Langham and east coastal areas.

Surface dressing is one of the best ways of extending the life of roads while contributing to safety by improving skid resistance and preventing potholes. The process involves laying a thin layer of bitumen and chippings on to the road, stopping water penetration and reducing the number of potholes caused by frost. This year’s planned programme is worth £9.2M.

This work takes place every year while the weather is warmer, with the holiday areas and main roads treated first. Where possible, work is planned away from busy roads during peak periods, but because it is fast-moving and may be suspended during bad weather, it is hard to give motorists early warning of where the crews will be working. The aim is to complete busier routes by the end of July.

People living along routes to be surface dressed will receive notification a day or two before the crews arrive. They will be asked not to park on the road on the day of the surfacing, or the following day when loose chippings will be swept up. They will have the chance to say what they think afterwards via the County Council’s website, or on a response card which will be delivered to a proportion of residents.

The County Council apologises for any inconvenience caused to local people and to motorists, who are asked to drive with care and consideration when work is taking place, and for a few days afterwards while the new surface settles. A 20mph speed limit is imposed during work and on freshly-laid surface dressing for safety reasons. The work will be carried out by Norfolk County Council’s Community & Environmental Services Dept and their contractors.

The BBC would like to alert you to an opportunity to volunteer your time to assist at the Radio 1 Academy – a week of workshops and activities aimed at young people interested in the music, film and digital industries, ahead of Radio 1’s Big Weekend.

Taking place from 9-15 May at Open in Norwich and run by BBC Learning, the Radio 1 Academy will welcome thousands of young people, mainly 16-19 year olds, to take part in workshops, learn from professionals and help inspire future careers in music, journalism, gaming, film and television.

The Academy will require help with some roles assisting in the workshops. These roles will be coordinated by the BBC. Please send your details and fill in the attached application form to the BBC to register your interest now.

Please note: You have to be over 18 to apply and working hours would be up to a maximum of 8 hours per day including a lunch break. The BBC will cover all expenses including travel and lunch.

Please email [email protected] by 20th April with the required details.

Download the application form here

The A47 will be closed at Postwickfrom 8pmtomorrow night (Thursday 16 April) for preparatory work ahead of the weekendclosure of the road for bridge beam lifts.

The Thursday night closure will be lifted no later than 6am on Friday, 17 April,or as soon as the work has finished. It is hoped that it will be completed in the early hours of Friday.

Unfortunately, for eastbound traffic (towards Great Yarmouth) the diversion using the Postwick junction slip roads and new access roads (see weekend closure, below)will not be available. A47 traffic heading east on Norwich Southern Bypass will therefore be diverted at the Trowse junction, with a lengthy diversion route using the A146, A143, and A12, re-joiningthe A47 at Vauxhall roundabout.

Westbound traffic will be diverted using the Postwick junction slip roads, so will not be significantly affected.

Commenting on the Liberal Democrat Party manifesto and the policies proposed, Dr Adam Marshall, Executive Director of the British Chambers of Commerce said:

“It is good to see that the Liberal Democrats’ policy proposals include a commitment to investing in infrastructure, improving access to finance by expanding the Business Bank, and greater support for firms to grow apprenticeship numbers.Companies also badly want to see the promised ‘broad and well considered business rates review’ materialise.

“Continued Liberal Democrat opposition to expansion of airport capacity is short-sighted when the need is so critical.

“Businesses will also be concerned by a number of Lib Dem tax proposals. Restricting entrepreneurs’ relief, hiking dividend taxes and slashing annual allowances for Capital Gains Tax, could have a chilling effect on growth. The last thing the UK needs is tax changes that discourage entrepreneurial risk-taking by startup and growth companies.”

Commenting on the Conservative Party manifesto and the policies proposed, Dr Adam Marshall, Executive Director of the British Chambers of Commerce said:

“Companies across the UK will welcome Conservative policy proposals on fiscal discipline, low taxation, infrastructure projects, and support for enterprise and regional growth.

“A majority of the businesses we survey continue to support the Prime Minister’s ambition to re-cast Britain’s relationship with the EU, and to hold a referendum on the result.

“Raiding pensions savings, even to pay for a business priority like expanded access to childcare, will dismay entrepreneurs, for whom long-term rewards are often more important than short-term pay. Political intervention in regulated markets, such as rail fares, could have negative impacts on investment, as could proposals for new employment regulations around corporate volunteering.

“The housing crunch is a brake on business growth and employment in many parts of the UK. Yet the problem isn’t whether we’re selling enough houses, but whether we are building enough of them.”

• Annual CPI inflation in March 2015 was 0.0%, unchanged from February
• Goods price inflation in March 2015 was -2.1%, while services inflation was 2.4%

Commenting on the CPI inflation figures for March 2015 published today by the ONS, David Kern, Chief Economist at the British Chambers of Commerce said:

“Continued low inflation is good news for the economy, particularly at a time when wage increases are modest and businesses are facing challenges. Contrary to expectations inflation has remained unchanged, however there is still is distinct possibility of deflation in coming months.

“If deflation is to emerge it should be short-term because of the strength of the UK’s largest sector, the service sector, where inflation remains above 2%.

“The main cause of low inflation in the economy is the fall in energy and food prices, which will help to ease cost pressures for consumers and businesses, and will support economic growth.

“To sustain business confidence we need a firm commitment from the MPC to keep interest rates on hold until at least early 2016.”

Abellio Greater Anglia is advising rail passengers that there will now be far fewer alterations to weekend train travel over the coming weeks and months, now that Network Rail has completed essential track and overhead line upgrades on the Great Eastern Main Line (between Norwich, Ipswich, Colchester and London) which took place over eight weekends between 31 January / 1 February and 21 / 22 March.

Saturday services

There are now no further significant engineering works affecting Saturday services on the Norwich / Ipswich / Colchester to London Liverpool Street route this Spring or Summer, including the three upcoming Bank Holiday weekends of May Day Holiday Saturday (2 May ) and Spring Bank Holiday Saturday (23 May).

The exception being a small number of early morning and late evening services on 25 April which will involve a bus replacement service for part of the journey.

Sunday services

On Sundays over the coming weeks, other than Bank Holiday weekends, most services are also operating free of engineering works, although rail passengers are advised to check before they travel as some early morning and late evening services will include a bus replacement for part of the journey.

Looking ahead

Looking further ahead, the good news for passengers on the Great Eastern Main Line is that with the exception of the works on 3/4 May and 24/25 May, weekend/bank holiday travel is now largely free of significant disruptive engineering work for the rest of the year, other than some late night Saturday and early morning Sunday services.

Andrew Goodrum, Customer Service Director, Abellio Greater Anglia said: “There are now many more opportunities for rail passengers to travel without any planned service alterations at weekends this Spring, including on Good Friday and Easter Saturday. Customers can obtain full details of train times and great ideas for a day-out in London from our website or by enquiring at our stations.”

Full information on train times and service alterations is available at: www.abelliogreateranglia.co.uk or www.nationalrail.co.uk .

Customers planning to travel at weekends or Bank Holidays are advised to check before they travel.

Commenting on Labour’s manifesto and the policies proposed, Dr Adam Marshall, Executive Director of the British Chambers of Commerce said:

“Businesses will be encouraged by a number of the policy propositions in the Labour Party manifesto, notably around investment, access to finance, and training. Firms will welcome the clearer commitment to fiscal responsibility and deficit reduction that features prominently in Labour’s manifesto.

“However, future business success also relies on a supportive tax and regulatory regime. Some of the Labour Party’s tax and regulatory proposals would dissuade enterprise, aspiration, and business growth – and need to be re-thought.

“Above all, businesses tell us they want all political parties to put the long-term national interest above short-term electoral interest. Sound and deliverable policies will be our litmus test for any incoming government, whatever its political colour.”

The A47 will be closed at Postwick, at the eastern end of Norwich Southern Bypass, on at least three weekends to allow eight 114-metre bridge beams to be lifted into place. The provisional dates have now been confirmed, but it is hoped thatthe final (fourth) weekend closure will not be necessary. Warning signs about the closures are in the process of being placed as far away as Newmarket bypass and King’s Lynn to give motorists a chance to plan ahead and change their route.

Traffic will be diverted around the slip roads and new business park access roads, so motorists are warned to use another route if possible, or to be prepared for significant delays.

Eastbound (towards Great Yarmouth) A47 traffic will be diverted on to the new access roads that will serve the expanded Broadland Business Park and new Broadland Gate business areas. This route will include five roundabouts before traffic rejoins the A47. Temporary traffic lights may be used to assist traffic flow.

Westbound (towards Dereham and King’s Lynn) A47 traffic will have a shorter diversion, but this will pass through works on the new Oaks Lane roundabout and the major junction at the southern end of the existing and new (under construction) bridges over the A47.

Westbound traffic will be particularly disrupted on the second weekend. On this weekend thebridgebeams cannot be lifted by crane from the compound and will have to be transported on to the A47 itself. Each movement will cause delays of up to 20 minutes on the westbound diversion route.

Weekend One – 17 to 20 April Westbound carriageway to close at 8pm on Friday 17 April. Eastbound carriageway to close after football traffic has cleared (about 11pm). Road to reopen no later than 6am Monday 20 April.

Weekend Two – 24 to 27 April Closure of both carriageways at 8pm Friday 24 April. There will be off-peak delays on the westbound diversion route while beams are moved from the site compound on to the A47 itself. Road to reopen no later than 6am Monday 27 April.

Early May Bank Holiday weekend No closure on the Bank Holiday weekend, which includes the Norwich City home match against Fulham on 2 May.

Weekend Three – 8 to 11 May Closure of both carriageways at 8pm Friday 8 May. Road to reopen no later than 6am Monday 11 May.

Weekend Four – 15 to 18 May This weekend closure may be necessary depending upon progress. The decision on whether or not this closure will be used will be publicised as soon as possible.

On all weekends, the A47 will be reopened earlier whenever possible. In addition to the weekend closures, a number of overnight A47 closures will be required over the summer.

Local Diversions As well as the main A47 diversions, there will be a number of local diversions because of restrictions imposed to ease the flow of divertedA47 traffic.

The existing bridge carrying the A1042over the A47 will be closed southbound. Tocross the A47, traffic to Postwick villagewill be diverted along the A47 to the Cucumber Lane roundabout.

This bridge may also be closed northbound, if this is necessary to ease congestion on the main diversion route. If this happens, to cross the A47 local traffic will be diverted along the A47 to the Trowse junction. Local buses, cyclists and pedestrians will be escorted through theA1042 bridge closure.

On Broadland Business Park, Peachman Way will be closed at the roundabout with Broadland Way. Business park traffic will have to use Cranley Road and Broadland Way instead.

Postwick Park & Ride Postwick Park & Ride site will remain closed on A47 closure weekends to reduce pressure on the diversion routes, and because reliable running of the buses will sometimes be impossible to achieve. The nearest alternative site is Harford at the A47/A140 junction.

A larger map is attached and further updates will be posted onNorfolk County Council’s website atwww.norfolk.gov.uk/postwickand willbe publicised on social media and throughfurther public information notices.