The Debrief - September 2024

The A47 Alliance Steering Group met for their third meeting of the year on 20 September 2024. 

At the meeting, the A47 Alliance welcomed several new representatives from local authorities following the May local elections. The Alliance also welcomed a number of new MPs following the 4 July General Election. It was great to have them at the meeting and to receive their support for the campaign. 

National Highways provided the Alliance with an update on the Roads Investment Strategy 1 (RIS1) A47 schemes. It was brilliant to hear the news that the Blofield to North Burlingham and North Tuddenham to Easton dualling schemes have begun, some ten years after the funding for these schemes was confirmed. 

Norfolk County Council also gave an update on campaign progress and next steps. This included:

• A meeting in May 2024 with the, now former, Roads Minister Guy Opperman MP to discuss the Roads Investment Strategy 3 (RIS3) and make the case for dualling and major investment in the A47. A photograph from the event is shown in the blog header. 
• Sending letters to the new Government following the 4 July General Election. The letters introduced who the A47 Alliance is, what our priorities are and made the case for dualling. Letters were sent to: 
  • • Keir Starmer MP - Prime Minister
    • Louise Haigh MP - Secretary of State for Transport
    • Lilian Greenwood MP - Future of Roads Minister 
    • Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire MPs
• Responding to National Highways on their proposed A47 speed limit reductions
• Continuing social media posting
• Continuing to collate testimonials from politicians, businesses and the public

Next steps for the campaign will be focused on engaging the new decision makers at Westminster to put the A47 firmly on the new Government's agenda.