NEWS

Businesses' A11 campaign plea to minister

Transport secretary Ruth Kelly was last night urged by dozens of East Anglia's most senior business figures to dual the A11 - and remove the barrier to bringing new jobs and prosperity to the region.

Twenty-two chief executives, chairmen and directors have put their name to an open letter to Ms Kelly warning that the single-carriageway stretch between Thetford and the Fiveway roundabout “represents a barrier to improving Norfolk's economy and image”.

The letter warns that “traffic problems along this stretch of road result in Norfolk being perceived as remote and inaccessible, having a knock-on-effect on local businesses in terms of inward investment, competitiveness and recruitment”.

A study commissioned by the East of England Development Agency has concluded that dualling the road would be worth £557.5m to the economy in time-saved on sitting in traffic jams - and would bring £136m in wider benefits to the regional economy.

The call from business to dual the A11 also comes just days after the launch of a petition by the leaders of Norfolk and Suffolk county councils, MPs and John Fry, chairman of the economic development partnership, Shaping Norfolk's Future (SNF).

Chris Starkie, chief executive of SNF, said the letter would be sent to Whitehall later this month - and expected that 100 business leaders will have put their names and weight behind the campaign by the time the letter reaches Ms Kelly.

"The business community regards dualling the A11 as the number one priority to boost competitiveness and improve the perception of Norfolk as a great place in which to do business,” Mr Starkie added.

"Unreliable journey times continue to damage Norfolk's image and its ability to develop its full potential as a vibrant business centre.

"In our letter we are calling on Ruth Kelly to act now. We have waited long enough for this scheme. Norfolk deserves and must demand better road links and the A11 is the county's number one priority."

Courtesy of EDP