Public Meeting, 4th December at 7.30 p.m.  Offord Village Hall

The Secretary of State’s Preferred Route for the new A14 off line section between Ellington and Fen Drayton is the Orange Route, which passes South of Offord Hill within ½ mile of the edge of our villages. Work is scheduled to start late in 2010, just three years away.

Although we fought hard to persuade our District and County Councils and others that the Brown Route offered a better solution for all the communities affected, 62% of those who responded to the Further Consultation chose the Orange Route.

We now face some difficult choices.

We have achieved a great deal to date:

●          Delaying the road by two years has bought us time.
●          We have a significant fighting fund.
●          We know a lot more about funding for roadbuilding.
●          Environmental issues have moved up the political agenda.

Up to 25% of vehicles using the A14 are HGVs, twice the national average, yet the Government are doing nothing to promote improvements to the rail freight link from Felixstowe to Nuneaton. At over £700 million, this is the most expensive trunk road scheme in England, yet the Government, supported by our District and County Councillors appear hell bent on building it despite the financial and environmental cost.

These are complex issues and we cannot act without a mandate from you, the people affected in our villages.

It is essential that as many of you as possible come along to the Meeting and tell us your views. This your opportunity to make your voice heard.

If you cannot get to the meeting then email me with your views or give me a call. We need at least 100 responses to give us a valid mandate to go forward.

BE THERE!

Nita Tinn, Offords A14 Action Group                              j.tinn@btinternet.com
Tel. 01480 811808