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Business leaders and councils lead the final push in A11 dualling campaign

The fight to dual the remaining single carriageway stretch of the A11 has entered the final straight.

A public enquiry opened on 24 November into the Highways Agency's £135m scheme, with both Norfolk and Suffolk County Councils and Shaping Norfolk's Future, Norfolk Chamber of Commerce and the Gateway A11 East Group giving evidence strongly backing the plans.

The inquiry is due to finish on Friday (4 December) with a site visit by the Inspector.  The five groups make a number of arguments in their written evidence including:

• The direct and wider economic benefits of the scheme run to well over £600m over 60 years
• Strong public support - 16,000 people signed the Dual the A11 petition
• Widespread support from businesses, who believe it will unlock the potential of the Norfolk economy
• Norwich is the largest city in the UK not connected directly to a motorway by dual carriageway
• It will help deliver future growth envisaged by the Government for Norwich and Thetford.

Norfolk and Suffolk County Councils joined forces during the summer of 2008 with Shaping Norfolk's Future and Norfolk Chamber of Commerce to successfully lobby members of the East of England Regional Planning Panel urging them to make completing the dualling of the A11 a top priority - something which was crucial to the success of the campaign.

The County Council then helped to lead a public campaign with partners to persuade Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon to bring forward the dualling of the single carriageway stretch of the road, which culminated with Mr Hoon announcing last autumn he was giving the scheme the go ahead, subject to a public inquiry.

View this eMagazine online at:
http://www.norfolkpublications.org.uk/businessmatters