MPs and Council leaders issue joint statement. Following a meeting with Cambridgeshire MPs and Council Leaders to discuss the impact of the Government’s decision to halt the building of the A14 Ellington to Fen Ditton scheme as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review announced in October, Jonathan Djanogly (Huntingdon), Steve Barclay (North East Cambridgeshire), Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire), James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire), Shailesh Vara (North West Cambridgeshire) and Stewart Jackson (Peterborough) with Council Leaders Cllr Mrs Jill Tuck from Cambridgeshire County Council and Cllr Ian Bates from Huntingdonshire District Council have issued the following joint statement; ‘We all understand that the country faces huge economic challenges following the legacy bequeathed by the previous Labour administration. However, the A14 continues to be the most important infrastructure project in Cambridgeshire and in our view, the East of England. ‘We regret the decision to halt the building of the new road given its importance in terms of health and safety, the region’s economy and the development of new towns. ‘Cambridgeshire MPs will be meeting with the Roads Minister, Mike Penning MP, on 9 December where they will be pressing the case for the importance of progress towards the building of the new road; and putting forward ideas for how this vital project can be take forward, not with-standing the lack of public funding. ‘We will also be seeking clarity on why the costs have escalated from an estimated £520 million to £1.2 billion and pushing for a business case to be built around the possibility of reducing this by building the road in sections rather than the whole of the original route. ‘It is important that we push ahead now.’