Lobbying leads to major road status for West Suffolk highways

Ministers have listened to calls by West Suffolk to improve transport after vital local links were given Major Road Status and the chance of extra funding.

West Suffolk councillors have welcomed the news following extensive local lobbying.

The Government has announced that the A1307 linking Haverhill and the A134 from Bury St Edmunds to Thetford and Sudbury have been included on the Major Roads Status list. Also included is the A142 from Newmarket into Cambridgeshire which is a major link off of the A14.

This means that the roads are eligible to bid for additional funding from the National Roads Fund. This has set aside £3.5 billion to be spent on local roads such as these in the UK.

West Suffolk councillors, together with partners such as local MPs, Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, Suffolk County Council and the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority have lobbied hard for these roads to be included.

They have argued the importance of these roads to not only the local economy and communities but also nationally for trade.

The A1307 is a vital link from Haverhill to A11, Cambridge and beyond. As part of the Cambridge Sub-Region, is an important driver of the UK economy.

Together with the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce as well as other public and private organisations, West Suffolk Councils have been lobbying for improvements to the A14 junctions at Newmarket and Bury St Edmunds. Both the A134 and A142 junctions are on the A14 which is the premier trade route for the UK linking the port of Felixstowe with the Midlands and the Northern powerhouse.

Susan Glossop, Cabinet Member for Planning and Growth at St Edmundsbury Borough Council, said: “This is excellent news and something we, with our partners, have been lobbying hard over. Good transport links are vital for the future prosperity and growth of our area. I welcome the fact that Government has listened and this means we can now look at unlocking some of the extra money that this status brings. The A1307 is recognised as a vital link that needs improving and this will help this become a reality. The A134 links Suffolk to Essex and has been blighted by accidents. We hope that money can now be used to improve these roads.”

And Lance Stanbury, Cabinet member for Planning and Growth, addd: “Anybody who has driven these roads knows how busy they are and the need to improve them. We, with partners, have argued long and hard that they need to be given Major Roads Status. I am pleased to see that Government has heard our arguments. Helping keep West Suffolk on the move so that people, goods and data can flow easily in our area is one of our top priorities. It not only helps our local economy, businesses and communities but also the UK as a whole. This builds on our work to get the A14 upgraded and in particular the junctions at Newmarket and Bury St Edmunds. We went to Westminster with Suffolk partners to make this point to the Minister and the fact this stretch of the A14 is the premier UK trade route.”