Earlier this week, we heard the news that a consortium, led by international shipping company MSC, have agreed to buy the Port of Felixstowe as part of a deal worth £15 billion.
It is no exaggeration to say that, as one of the world’s largest container ports, the future of Felixstowe is a question of local, regional, and national significance.
While details are yet to emerge – and I hope to talk to MSC in the near future about their long-term plans for the site – it is obvious just how consequential this agreement could be for our local area.
In the Greater Ipswich area alone, thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions of pounds of investment are linked to the port.
If we are going to fulfil our potential, however, it is about time to get to grips with our creaking, antiquated infrastructure network which is holding us back.
The Ely and Haughley junction upgrades, for example, would allow more freight coming to and from Felixstowe to move by railway.
By reducing the need for HGVs driving to and from the Port, it would help to alleviate some of our local traffic chaos in and around Ipswich, too. This is in addition to providing a major boost to passenger services too.
The previous Conservative government repeatedly promised to deliver these upgrades, but, as usual, they failed to deliver. Both before and after the election, I have pressed our case with Ministers across Government, underling the critical importance of this scheme for our town, county and region.
Similarly, the electrification of the line down to Felixstowe would make it easier to shift freight onto the railways - saving businesses time and money - and the upgrade of the Copdock roundabout is another necessary scheme we need to draw out of the long grass.
I also look forward to driving forward the work of the Ipswich Transportation Task Force which will focus on improving our town’s internal road and transport infrastructure.
However, I have been repeatedly and unequivocally clear that - while we need a range of infrastructure upgrades in and around Ipswich – a Northern Bypass is the only credible, deliverable, and long-term alternative to the Orwell Bridge.
Suffolk Chamber of Commerce’s recent A14 report found that a whopping 87% of local businesses said they were negatively impacted by the A14.
All the schemes I mention above are crucial for relieving pressure on our local road networks which we all suffer from, but none will have the same impact as a Northern Bypass.
We have already had a stark warning of the cost of inaction. Maersk leaving Felixstowe for the London Gateway - which boasts an attractive supporting infrastructure network - was a bitter blow to the Port and to our county.
We cannot afford to sit idly by as other competitors are pouring billions into infrastructure, otherwise we will get left behind.
If we do not act, the traffic chaos will continue, thousands of jobs will be lost, and our local economy will be hit to the tune of hundreds of millions of pounds too. It really is that existential.
A final note. The Government’s ambitious devolution proposals give us the opportunity to seize the initiative locally, protecting and enhancing the Port of Felixstowe’s local, regional, and national significance by driving forward these infrastructure projects.
I believe that a Greater Ipswich Council – alongside our friends and neighbours in East and West Suffolk - is the only serious option to protect our shared heritage, and deliver a far more prosperous future.
Clearly, the status quo is not working; that is why the Government is committed to change. Yet, we must now be ready to seize the opportunity presented to us, and take the necessary bold, decisive action that Ipswich and Suffolk needs to kick on.
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