Jonathan Djanogly the MP for the Huntingdon Constituency issued the following statement regarding the Highways Agency announcement on the preferred route for the Ellington to Fen Drayton A14 upgrade.
Mr Djanogly said: "I am very pleased to see the announcement from the Highways Agency regarding the preferred route and strategy for the Ellington to Fen Drayton A14 upgrade, although I was concerned that the decision was delayed and not announced as originally planned at the end of the summer.
I note that the route chosen is the Orange route, which received 62% support from the received questionnaires. However, I do appreciate that not all my constituents will welcome this decision, so it will be important that they get the opportunity to voice their concerns at a public enquiry. Our priority now therefore should be to move this process forward as quickly as possible.
Whilst the Highways Agency have announced that a contractor will be appointed, I have written to them seeking clarification on when the appointment will be made and why it will take until 2009 to publish the draft orders and hold a public enquiry. Furthermore, I have also asked why it will take until 2010, subject to funding and statutory processes, for building work to start and whether this date can be brought forward, as the number of accidents and deaths on this stretch of road warrants urgent action. "