Suffolk Chamber keeping the pressure up on politicians and others over key infrastructure demands

A key Suffolk Chamber of Commerce policy group took full advantage yesterday (20^th March) in pushing forward with a number of the business community’s demands for improvements to transport infrastructure and services in the county.

Suffolk Chamber’s Transport & Infrastructure Group (TIG) received presentations from CityFibre, the telecommunications network provider that is delivering a number of gigabit-capable FTTP broadband projects in Suffolk and Suffolk County Council regarding the new draft Suffolk Local Transport Plan.

Chamber team and members used these opportunities to suggest relevant improvements. In the case of the broadband rollout programme, Suffolk Chamber has secured a further meeting with CityFibre to ensure that key growth corridors, especially along the A14 are not overlooked as the company pivots from work in the major towns into more rural areas.

As regards the Suffolk Local Transport Plan, Suffolk Chamber is pushing for improved coordination between the County Council, bus companies and major employers to identify further opportunities to provide public transport for staff commuting from urban areas to more remotely located businesses.

The consultation ends on 8^th April.

The meeting also provided an opportunity for businesses to share with others the increasingly negative impact of closures of the Orwell Bridge and related issues on the roads network in and around Ipswich.

One contributor based at the Port of Ipswich said that “on days when we have been loading a vessel the day is a wipe out. On two separate closures occasions the vessel we were loading was delayed by a day.”

Steve Britt, chair of the TIG reflected: “It’s clear that there is a serious strategic policy vacuum opening up regarding the sub regional roads system, not least due to the demise of any further conversation regarding an improved road network to the north of the county town.

“It’s almost as if commercial and private road users are being expected to put up with continuous delays without end. This is totally unsatisfactory and Suffolk Chamber will be urging Transport East, Suffolk County Council and others to get a move on and develop a connectivity study aimed at finding and delivering long-term solutions.”

The TIG meeting also received updates both about Suffolk Chamber’s intensifying lobbying of local Conservative MPs and Labour and Green Party Parliamentary candidates, as well as senior Government ministers and shadow ministers to release the much-needed funds to progress the vital rail projects at Ely and Haughley Junctions and the Suffolk Business Digital Business Champions Group aimed at speeding up the rollout of 5G mobile infrastructure and usage.

Paul Simon, Suffolk Chamber’s head of public affairs added: “This meeting showed just how much effort the Chamber and our members are putting in keeping the pressure up on national and local politicians and other decision-makers to deliver key infrastructure demands.”

Find out more about Suffolk Chamber’s Transport & Infrastructure Group (TIG)