Colchester has grown very quickly with tens of thousands of homes being built without the adequate infrastructure to support it. I recognised the importance of transport infrastructure for the economic success of our town. I sat on the Transport Select Committee which gave me a valuable insight into a number of transport issues nationwide.
My focus has been on the Great Eastern Main Line, the A12, the A120 and the local Colchester roads network.
I firmly believe that Colchester is uniquely positioned to reap the benefits of transport infrastrcture investment. Sandwiched between Stansted Airport, the ports of Felixstowe and Harwich, The University of Essex, Southend Airport and the City of London, if we can get the transport infrastructure right then Colchester will be the place in the East of England to do business.
However, Colchester also has challenges getting around the town itself and I have been working with Essex County Council to look at congestion-busting measures. A Roman town built on a hill is not ideally placed to take the traffic and congestion that comes with considerable housing growth, and it is therefore important that the right infrastructure is in place to tackle congestion.
We have seen successes: an entire new fleet of trains for the Great Eastern Main Line, the A120 now at final preferred route stage and the funding secured to widen the A12 between Chelmsford and Colchester.
I was also proud to announce that I helped to secure £99.9 million of central government funding for a brand new link road in East Colchester, which will link the A120 and the A133. This road will have the effect of relieving congestion in Highwoods, St John's, St Anne's, and Greenstead.
I will always stand up for Colchester's right to infrastructure investment.
