A14 Work To Get Public Enquiry

15 February 2010, 05:00 | Updated: 15 February 2010, 07:18

After the opposition shown during the A14 consultation on it's widening - a public inquiry's to be held this summer.

Proposals include not just putting an extra lane in - but completely rebuilding the stretch between Ellington and Fen Ditton.

Huntingdon MP Jonathan Djanogly is for the improvements but can see why those affected need another way to show their concerns:

Mr Djanogly said: "Those who live in villages possibly affected by the construction route - they may be keen to have tighter environmental assurances or improvements put in place, which aren't currently in the plan; it doesn't mean they are necessarily against the plan as a whole.

"I'm not suprised an inquiry is to be held this summer, but I still expect work to begin in 2012 as provision for an inquiry was included in the original timetable.

"I think an inquiry was inevitable as it's a £1bn plan - it's going to have significant implications for local people, local business, local agriculture and for the region."

The Highways Agency say the A14 is an all-purpose dual carriageway road, running from M1/M6 motorway junction to Felixstowe Docks, a distance of approximately 210km. 

The A14 is a road with national, regional and local functions. It is designated the main east-west strategic route between the east coast ports and the Midlands and has been identified as a priority Trans European Network (TEN) route. 

The section of the A14 between Cambridge and Huntingdon also caters for north-south traffic between the A1(M) at Alconbury and M11 Junction 14.

The scheme consists of the following items:

  • A new two lane dual carriageway to the west of Huntingdon between Ellington and the A1.
  • A new three lane dual carriageway between A1 and Fen Drayton around the south of Huntingdon and Godmanchester.
  • Widening of the existing A14 to three lanes in each direction between Fen Drayton and Fen Ditton (17km)
  • Local access roads alongside the widened A14 between Fen Drayton and M11 Junction 14 at Girton
  • Major interchanges with the A1 at Brampton, the existing A14 at Fen Drayton and the M11/A428 at Girton.
  • Detrunking of the existing A14 between the A1 and Fen Drayton and removal of the Huntingdon Railway Viaduct to provide opportunities for regenerating Huntingdon town centre.
  • Draft Orders for the scheme were published on 30 September 2009. Draft Orders are required under the Highways Act 1980 in order to authorise the building of the scheme and to acquire any necessary land. The draft Orders and the Environmental Statement (ES) are available to view at the locations listed below. You can access the ES and NTS from the publications page. Since the publication of the ES, we have made some small amendments including typographical corrections as well as clarifications. You can view the corrigenda from the publications page.

What happens next?

The publication of draft orders allowed you to examine the proposals and offer comment in the form of support, objection or other representation.

The objection period ended on 6 January 2010.

The draft Orders and Environmental Statement can still be seen at Huntingdon library, St Ives library, Cambridge Central library, SCDC offices in Cambourne, Cambridge City Council offices and the Highways Agency in Bedford.

The Secretary of State for Transport and the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government have decided to hold a Public Inquiry to consider objections to the draft Orders.

You can view the Notice of Intention and a link to a Department for Transport booklet about Public Local Inquiries into Road Proposals from the publications page.

All those who have responded during this period will be notified individually at least six weeks beforehand.

Notices will also appear in the local press.

All comments received will be made available to the Inspector, who may decide to make them public. Publicity will be given to any alternative proposals received.

Following any Inquiry, the Secretaries of State will consider the Inspector's Report, together with any objections and representations made, before making a decision on the future of the scheme.