TRANSPORT leader Rodney Bass is demanding £2billion to turn the A12 into a three lane motorway.

The cabinet member for highways and transportation at County Hall wants all Essex MPs to join his campaign to improve the “transportation backbone of the Essex economy”.

He said: “What is needed is a triple lane motorway between the M25 and Ipswich – no ifs and no buts.

“This sort of scheme, at an investment cost of some £2billion and suitable investment in the A120 and A127, would do more to stimulate economic growth than wasting Government money on HS2.”

He also wants a return of the dedicated A12 police patrols on the notorious road.

He is pledging £100,000 a year to pay for them and wants the Highways Agency and the Police and Crime Commissioner to pledge support and money.

Mr Bass also wants chevrons introduced to regulate distance and a ban on HGV overtaking at peak times.