Final push to get A453 widened
BUSINESSES were today being urged to join a campaign to persuade the Government to finally improve the A453.
The Nottingham Post is working with Notts County Council to get the £160 million scheme started.
-
The A453 in Clifton
It is on a list of 14 transport projects not set to go ahead before 2015.
But ministers are expected to bring at least one of these forward, and the A453 is on the shortlist.
County council leader Kay Cutts has written to businesses asking for their support.
An online petition has been set up for people to register their support and messages can be sent to the council to be forwarded to ministers.
A delegation of the most senior business leaders in the county will go to London to meet Philip Hammond, Secretary of State for Transport, to stress the benefits of the scheme, which the council says would bring a £540 million boost to the regional economy.
Coun Cutts believes the county has its best chance yet of securing the improvements – but only if people back the campaign.
"People need to speak up now or we'll spend the next 30 years like the last, complaining about congestion on the A453," said Mrs Cutts.
"We need every business to back this campaign and make their voice heard, so that ministers in London understand how passionate local people are about this scheme and how vital it is to Nottinghamshire's prosperity."
The council has already written to Mr Hammond pledging £20 million towards the widening of the route.
29 Comments
View all
by John_Carlton
Friday, June 17 2011, 10:47PM
“I think Master Senseless Matt Galtress might have a big change of opinion when he is finally old enough to drive. When hes been stuck in a queue on the A453 for 30 or 40 minutes after a long motorway trip, he might finally realise how badly the road is in need of improvement.
At the moment all he knows about traffic is riding on pavements on his bmx bike or being taken to school by his mum.
Isn't there an 18 year old minimum age limit on this forum?”
by FormerlyW
Friday, June 17 2011, 10:30PM
“Except that most of the money for the tram is not coming from the people of Nottingham, it is a capital investment funded by the entire country. Only a complete idiot would turn down that kind of inward investment to our city. Whether an inward investment to pay for improving the A453 would be a good idea is a separate argument, and no reason to turn down the money for the tram. It is also a moot argument since there is no chance that the Governemnt would fund it. They are, however, willing to invest massively in the City through a tram extension. What kind of an idiot turns down that kind of investment in the current economic climate?”
by MR_B_NOTTM
Friday, June 17 2011, 10:00PM
“mattgaltress (mr sensible, the real world, hahaha ). I suppose you think it is fair for us motorists to pay for the tram, which we do not need or want and when the normal joe bloggs public want the A453 improving, which is wanted and needed, you think it is a waste of money. Without sounding rude, you are either deranged or are a twelve year old.”
by mattgaltress
Friday, June 17 2011, 7:53PM
“"Maybe because the "inward investment" does not exist and the next stage of the tram is to be funded by the motorists of Nottingham paying the Workplace Parking Levy."
Except for the fact that there is such investment coming, not least Beeston and NG2...”
by Crlton1
Friday, June 17 2011, 8:54AM
“DogPoh, by having to resort to abuse you show just how weak the argument in favour and the support for this damaging road widening scheme is.”