Town Topics with Ipswich Chamber of Commerce

We should be encouraged that business leaders from across Ipswich welcomed the announcement at the end of 2013 that the Highways Agency are planning to make a number of improvements to the A14 in the vicinity of the Orwell Bridge.

The reduction in speed across the largest bridge in the East of England comes after businesses, I am proud to say led by the Ipswich Chamber of Commerce, campaigned throughout last year for the change.

The chamber is delighted that the Highways Agency will introduce a 60mph speed restriction with new signing and carriageway markings and new countdown markers on the approach to the services. There will be new ‘slow lorries for 1/2 mile’ signs on yellow backing boards to make them more conspicuous and 2 new signs at 3/4 mile Eastbound and 1 mile Westbound.

The chamber has worked incredibly hard in drawing attention to the negative impact that traffic congestion, mainly in the proximity of the Orwell Bridge and Junction 57 on the A14, has been having on businesses on Ransomes Europark.

Therefore we are pleased to see plans evolving which once enacted will make a real positive impact on the economy and on jobs in Ipswich.

The decision from the Highways Agency follows meetings arranged by the Chamber bringing together Ransomes Europark businesses, the Highways Agency, Suffolk Constabulary, Suffolk County Council and Ipswich Borough Council.

One of our board members, Peter Johnson, General Manager at Mediterranean Shipping Company, spoke to the EADT and was right when he said a dedicated survey of local businesses, which resulted in over 250 responses, provided hard evidence that local businesses are incurring significant costs as a result of frequent traffic congestion chaos.

Traffic congestion on Ransomes Europark: come and have your say

In addition to the progress previously reported, Suffolk County Council has agreed to consult with local businesses on how to best spend the Section 106 finance (developer funding) that is available to the authority to invest on the Europark to increase road capacity, improve traffic flows and reduce queuing.

Ipswich Chamber has arranged for the consultation meeting to take place at 5pm on February 11, 2014 on Ransomes Europark (venue tbc). It will be chaired by Peter Johnson of MSC and Cllr Graham Newman, the County Council’s Cabinet member for roads and transport and Cllr Bill Quinton, the local county councillor will both be in attendance along with officers from the authority’s Environment and Transport Department.

Contact Ashleigh Seymour-Rutherford at ashleigh@suffolkchamber.co.uk or on 01473 694807 to reserve a place.

As Suffolk Plc literally moves forward in 2014 it is more important than ever that business leads the way. I am encouraged we are making a good start.

Dave Muller

Chair

Ipswich Chamber of Commerce