Huppert meets Transport Minister to discuss A14 investment

Julian requested the formal meeting, after a number of informal discussions, as the government investigates proposals for improving the road following the decision last autumn to invest £20 million in safety improvements.

He will push for immediate small scale improvements to the road in a bid to reduce its accident record and ease congestion. In particular, Julian will continue to argue for junction improvements and a breakdown rescue service, to help reduce accidents and the effects they have on the road.

And he will also impress upon Mr Penning the need for longer term improvements to focus on rail freight investment to take lorries of the road.

Julian said: “I want to make sure that the A14 proposals that go forward reflect and address the problems faced on a daily basis by people who use this road and those who live and work near it.

“We have waited 10 years to get to this point and it is crucial that we make sure that the investment both in the short and longer term gives us a scheme that leads to dramatic improvement rather than creating more problems than it solves.

“In the longer term, I want to see more investment in rail freight so that we can companies can see the train as a quicker, more efficient and cost effective means of hauling freight and ultimately we can work towards taking heavy vehicles off our roads. These HGVs are responsible for a large proportion of the accidents on the A14”

Julian has also raised the issue of the A14 with Business Secretary, Vince Cable and Lib Dem Transport Minister, Norman Baker.

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