'We need cash for A12 now'

6:59am Friday 13th June 2008

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A REGENERATION boss, who is behind major business opportunities in Harwich and Mistley, today backed calls to upgrade one of the county's trunk roads.

David Ralph, chief executive of the Haven Gateway Partnership, said "investment is needed now" to improve the A12.

His calls come after the Essex Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) asked the Haven Gateway Partnership, which promotes the economic opportunities of ports in Harwich, Mistley, Ipswich and Felixstowe, to back the fight to do something about the road.

Essex County Council is holding an independent inquiry into the road's performance.

Motorists have experienced increasing problems of congestion and delays in recent years and the road is considered by many users to be operating above capacity.

Mr Ralph said: "The FSB's evidence was that it should be upgraded and their proposal is the road should be widened all the way from the M25 up the A12. We would absolutely support the investment in the A12.

"Investment is needed now to accommodate its usage. We are all aware of the problems created when someone breaks down."

He said: "It is really important that the Bathside Bay port is built and more than 80 per cent of locals agree it cannot be built until the road is improved. Although our intention is to put as much of the freight as possible on the railway, we still need to improve the road."