A14 widening between Histon and Girton – complete by next year.

I seem to have spent a lot of this last year working to bring forward the A14 upgrade. I was clear from the outset that not only did we need the major scheme to happen we also wanted some action NOW. It is brilliant that this A14 widening is to take place so quickly.

It is now time for the Lib Dems to put aside political mantra and support these improvements and more importantly the major scheme.

The Highways Agency has announced today, Wednesday, that a scheme will be completed next year to widen the A14 to three lanes both East and West bound between the Histon and Girton junctions. It is part of a wider announcement by the Government to remove pinch points and bottlenecks on UK roads.

The improvements will support the first phase of the development of the new town at Northstowe.

The scheme will see a new third lane run from the Histon interchange westbound and join directly onto the M11 slip-road.

Eastbound a new lane will run directly from the A14/ M11 interchange and link to the Histon interchange. This will help reduce congestion which can lead to long queues at peak times.

Two thirds of this had already been announced – i.e Girton to Histon third lane and westbound lane from layby on the A14 to link to the M11 slip. The new bit that we think will cost £3.06 million is joining the Histon interchange slip westbound to the A14 layby.

The 2014 date is very welcome as some of this work they have brought all together would have been finished in 2015.

Cambridgeshire County Council, with partners, has been talking to the Highways Agency on possible schemes to improve this busy section of the A14 which is used by thousands of vehicles a year. The announcement is part of the short term and long term measures proposed for the route.

It fits in with the more comprehensive improvements along the route from Milton to Ellington designed to boost safety and the economy as well as reduce congestion.

The Highways Agency says this scheme will be linked to the tranche two scheme that is being undertaken in the westbound direction and supports the Northstowe Phase One development. This has the potential to create 582 jobs and 1,480 new homes by 2020. It also supports the development of the gateways of Felixstowe Port and Harwich Port. It also consistent with the outputs from the A14 Challenge study, providing early improvements consistent with the proposed A14 major improvement scheme announced by the Transport Secretary on 18 July 2012. The Highways Agency says that the Histon to Girton scheme will cost £3.06 million and will start and be completed in 2014.

Initial campaign – so far so good

The campaign trail is exciting, hard work and this year creates very cold hands. I have delivered leaflets and chatted to lots of people. I have had lots of offers to deliver leaflets which has been very welcome. When I stood in 2009 Neil Scarr (Independent) came a close second with a significant personal vote. This is not surprising given how hardworking as a SCDC councillor he is. I am grateful that this time round not only is he not standing against me but he is helping to deliver my leaflets for me. And we have become firm friends.

So far, people seem very positive about the great things the Conservatives have been delivering over the last couple of years. They certainly welcome us helping to stimulate the economy whilst at the same time supporting vulnerable people. Get the first right and it helps to fund the second.

Lots of people have mentioned a widespread astonishment that the Lib Dems at the County Council and at SCDC will not support the A14 upgrade. People are really cross that the Lib Dem run Cambridge City council are refusing to help bring this essential upgrade forward. The question I keep getting asked is “don’t they realise this will save lives and help to save jobs. Are they mad?” People will have to work this out for themselves but the Conservatives are now the only pro A14 upgrade party.

I have been particularly impressed with James Hockney standing for Waterbeach. He is extremely hardworking and is focused on what is important for local people. He regularly lobbies me to ensure that Waterbeach remains a village and not turned into a town. Whilst I am aware it is on the governments list of potential development sites so much would have to happen before it even got close. This is not something to worry about for many, many years to come and anyone thinking it is an election issue now does not understand these matters and can only be scaremongering. First we must sort out the A14, which the Lib Dems dont support. Then the A10 would need upgrading significantly. And, more importantly of all, we already have planning permission granted for tens of thousands of housing at Northstowe, Alconbury, Clay Farm, North West Cambridge etc etc.

A14 Improvement scheme – Link to the CCC website

We will be developing an information pack as the details of the A14 upgrade scheme unfolds. The key issues will be put on our website.

THe link is here:

A14 Improvement scheme.

BBC interview talking about the transport including the A14 – transcribed by The New Listener

08:20 Wednesday 27th March 2013
Bigger Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

PAUL STAINTON: Fifty years ago the Beeching Report was released, massive cuts to lines, massive cuts to jobs. It begs the question, are we suffering for it now, as our roads struggle with the weight of traffic. And could expensive projects like the Guided Bus and the proposed A14 upgrade have been avoided if Beeching had never happened? And even if the need is there, can our train companies provide a financially viable service?

Nick Clarke is the Leader of Cambridgeshire County Council. Morning Nick.

NICK CLARKE: Good morning Paul.

PAUL STAINTON: Do you wish Beeching had never been born?

NICK CLARKE: Not at all. His report was a report of its time. He looked at the viability of the rail network, and clearly a lot of it wasn’t viable. We can’t expect the rest of Government and taxpayers to subsidise industries that weren’t meeting the needs of the people. And at the time there was a great shift, individuals wanting to drive cars, and they had to build roads for them. So you can understand how it happened. But we’re now in a position of looking forward, so we’re putting in place at the County Council a number of initiatives, lots of them to support rail as it turns out. As you’re well aware, the recent announcement of improving the Kings Dyke crossing at Whittlesea. We’re looking at the Wisbech rail station, and the one in Soham, and of course we’ve already made the announcements of the new station in Cambridge. So it’s about having a mixture of transport, and of course the one we can’t avoid talking about is the Busway, the Guided Busway, and that’s been a tremendous success.

PAUL STAINTON: Would we have needed it though Nick if we’d had some of these railway lines? We’re reaping what we sowed back in the day, because all this traffic is there for a reason. There are no railways.

NICK CLARKE: We have to look at the original point of it (which) is to move people around from and to where they want to go at the times they want to go. The Guided Busway at the moment for example is running five minute services. It’s beyond belief that anybody would run a train service to that regularity. I think when we looked at the studies at best we’d get a twenty minute service. And even then the viability, it’s difficult. And what we need is a flexible transport system which is what we’ve got in place for the Guided Busway. We’ve got 4 million people have used it. It’s a success by any measure. And it’s not costing us now, our operating costs, anything from the public purse. So we’re not subsidising it. That’s the key to this, if it needs to be sustainable, which it is. But the real one I’ve got to worry about at the moment is the A14. We’re leading a coalition at the County Council of local authorities who are all prepared to put some money in to bring that forward, and that’s the model the Government is proposing. But I’m getting some worrying signs that Cambridge City Council are now hesitating whether they’re going to contribute to that. And if that were to be the case, that would have a real problem for the sort of coalition of people who are prepared to fund this.

PAUL STAINTON: So the City Council have yet to commit their bit.

NICK CLARKE: They haven’t committed, and probably worse than that, the mood music is that they may not. So I’m really concerned about that. I’ve been spending an awful lot of time working with them recently.

PAUL STAINTON: Are they struggling to see what benefit it might bring? Surely it’s there in black and white, isn’t it?

NICK CLARKE: Well that would be my view, but yes, that’s exactly the point. I think they are struggling to see what the benefits would bring to Cambridge. But if I can’t convince the people of Cambridge that they need the A14 upgrading, how on earth can I convince Norfolk and Suffolk, Essex and all the rest to contribute?

PAUL STAINTON: What happens if they don’t commit? How much are we talking about here?

NICK CLARKE: Well I’m not sure it’s the quantum that’s the problem. It’s that the Government is insisting on a local contribution, as it’s insisting on tolling. I don’t like tolling. I don’t want to be contributing locally either. But that’s the deal on the table, and of course if we don’t pull that off, then there are plenty other counties up and down the country with road schemes that would take the Government’s right arm off. So this is about coming together to contribute, and what we’re talking about with these contributions of course is providing a slice of the benefit for the road upgrade. And Cambridge has got to benefit from that. We’ve seen AstraZeneca coming here. I’ve had correspondence from a number of very significant business leaders saying we have to have the A14 upgrade. The Local Enterprise Partnership has put £50 million on the table, and they’re doing that because they know that business needs the A14 upgrading, and without it, business is going to stall. And I don’t think it’s a case of, oh well, if it doesn’t get upgraded we won’t improve. I think if we don’t upgrade the A14, we will go backwards. And that’s not acceptable.

PAUL STAINTON: What would your message be then to Cambridge City Council, and the people that are delivering the mood music at the moment?

NICK CLARKE: Well I’ve given my message very clearly. I think it’s now time for the people of Cambridgeshire and Cambridge to let the City Council know how they feel about it. Because we politicians have a duty to respond to the people who we represent, and I think we need to let them know.

Ten reasons why Cambridge City Council should contribute to the A14 Improvement

1.​City residents use it ! It is a vital route for them to/from the north, west and east. And goods coming into the city depend on a reliable road network.

2.​Without the improvement, there will be more rat running traffic through the City.

3.​The improved A14 will reduce traffic levels in the City, and we can ensure that contributions from the City Council are targeted to elements of the scheme that will further mitigate traffic impacts from the road within the city.

4.​Without it, the competitiveness of Cambridge will decrease and businesses will move out – jobs will be lost in the city.

5.​Business and academia are calling for the improvement to allow them to invest in the area.

6.​The City Council will receive significant financial benefits if it is improved. More jobs = bigger business premises = more business rates. This will be many multiples of what we are asking the City to contribute.

7.​The road has a poor safety record – there are many accidents and deaths, and the road will improve that. If there is no scheme, this will continue.

8.​Government is giving us a once in a lifetime opportunity – they want to invest in the A14, but will only do it if the Councils also contribute.

9.​Other Councils, including those who will receive much less benefit from the road than the City Council, are contributing and standing together to bring this key piece of infrastructure forward. If the City Council does not contribute it makes it harder for those councils to maintain that position and support the growth of Cambridge.

10.​We are not looking for a lump sum – small payments are required over 25 years.

UKIP duck the A14 motion

Interestingly, a bit like most of the votes in Europe, our own UKIP councillor Peter Reeve ducked out of the chamber at the time of the vote on the A14.

He stayed long enough to speak, claiming the upgrade was too important for politics, before launching into a long UKIP party political broadcast.

Then he disappeared and has not been seen since, also missing the second debate.

A14 – the missing link

So, just back from the gym, recovering my composure and sat in my study. My thoughts started to wander.

The A14 upgrade is something that is never far from my thinking. It is so important. We have all dreamt about this road being fit for purpose, accidents being reduced, long delays ending. It now seems that this prize is within our grasp.

All we need to do is get all the local authorities to make a contribution, spread over 25 years and it is sorted. ALL local authorities need to chip in. So far we have agreement in principal for a contribution from the LEP, Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Northamptonshire, ECDC, SCDC, Huntingdonshire DC, Fenland DC and …………………… hmmmm.

Politicians have various loyalties. As county councillors we have loyalties to our division, our county, our conservative group and the Conservative party. We are also loyal to our country. Politicians sometimes have to deal with the conflict that these various loyalties bring but should never allow politics to get in the way of doing the right thing.

I don’t think any political party or any political leader would survive being the cause of this A14 upgrade not going ahead. Especially if the reason was for political ideology. That couldn’t happen, could it?

LEP – A14 local funding off and running

Yesterday, I presented a paper to our Local Enterprise Partnership on funding for the A14.

Government expects the A14 to be funded in three ways. The largest chunk of money will still come from the government, a significant amount from a road toll and a much smaller amount from local contributions.

The theory is that a local economic advantage is created by the upgrade and some of that should be used to help pay for it. The economic advantage is a reality.

Without the A14 upgrade the 10,000 new houses planned for our new town of Northstowe can’t go ahead, Waterbeach will never be developed and the enterprise zone at Alconbury is put at risk. On top of that businesses are being harmed and people killed and injured.

Our enterprise zone provides a potential revenue of around £180m over 25 years and the paper suggested that £50m of that should be pledged to the upgrade. Given the LEP exists to stimulate enterprise and just about everyone points to the A14 as the biggest barrier to economic development, it seems a good match.

I was pleased that the LEP board supported the paper.

Meeting the Prime Minister

Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending a function at No 10. I was able to have a discussion with David Cameron on the subject of the A14 upgrade. He told me he had just been talking about the A14 with Cabinet colleagues and was keen to accelerate the upgrade.

I get the impression that anyone standing in the way of this upgrade might find life getting difficult moving forward!

I was approach by Nick Boles, the planning minister, who call me ” Mr Growth” reflecting, I am guessing, on our fantastic achievements in Cambridgeshire rather than my girth! It’s good that our counties pro growth stance is being recognised. Nick was keen to come to visit to see some of our great work.

A14 Summit and the curious case of the Cambridge MP

I had the privilege to chair last night a very productive and constructive debate about how we finance the vital A14 improvements needed to help our economy and reduce the terrible number of accidents on this road.

I don’t think I need to explain to anyone reading this blog why the A14 needs improvement and the benefits it would bring.

In fact I don’t even have to explain that to Government. They absolutely get it and want the A14 to be improved.

Even Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has said on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire that he supports and is committed to the expansion of the A14.

It was clear at the Summit that the Treasury and the Department for Transport representatives were willing us to succeed.

But they also made it very clear that the only way it was to succeed in this time of financial challenge was if authorities and partner organisations help fund it.

No one at that meeting was left in any doubt that if we don’t help with funding then the A14 improvements will not be coming. Government will fund the bulk of it, there will have to be some tolling for most of the rest and then a local contribution.

The summit involved Councils and Local Enterprise Partnerships that are affected, or rather blighted, by the A14. It was a mature debate about how we might come together to achieve this. I was very pleased that there was widespread support for the principle of local funding, looking at the whole of the A14.

Quite rightly some Councils asked for more information so they could make an informed choice and something I have pledged support to provide.

What concerned me today was the attitude of our over excitable Cambridge MP Julian Huppert. All I care about is Cambridge he told Chris Mann on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire – like a schoolboy stamping his foot. I don’t like tolling and if you do it, don’t do it in my backyard.

Let’s hope none of his residents have to drive on the A14 to get to work or find they don’t have a job because businesses won’t come…or worse have to suffer the loss of a loved one.

No one likes tolling, but Government is clear it is needed to help deliver this. What we have to make sure is that through traffic is encouraged by physical measures not to use the new local roads that will be created. Will an HGV driver really want to drive through the centre of Cambridge and pay the costs in time and money that would incur.

Julian claims he has been calling for improvements for the last ten years and like a petulant child blames the Tories. Forgetting he has been asking for the road to be tweaked while his own leader agrees with most people who have suffered on it that it needs more capacity. Not to mention his own Government are telling us in no uncertain terms that if local contributions don’t come forward no scheme will be delivered.

I could point out that this is a Government managed road and it has been the County Council that has constantly pushed for this to be upgraded. Indeed in the last 20 months I have been leader the A14 improvements have been moved from on the scrap heap to a reality that is within reach.

But like the Summit, this is about a mature debate. I have been really impressed with the attitude of all the Councils that were there.

The A14 improvements are far too important to be bogged down in childish politics. I look forward to taking the good work started at this summit further with colleagues across the eastern region for the good of us all.