When I was first elected in 2010, Norfolk was the only UK county not connected to the motorway and dual carriageway network. Not only had this held back businesses and families for too long, it had also proved dangerous for thousands of commuters travelling down unsafe single-carriage roads. 

That’s why I vowed to get this sorted and was delighted to work alongside my fellow parliamentary colleagues, local councillors, businesses and community groups to secure the dualling of the A11 – a key first step. 

However, while the current A11 improvement works close to Wymondham are to be welcomed, I am acutely aware that many local communities are suffering from a spike of “rat-running” by motorists aiming to quickly move around Wymondham to continue their journey, or who instead wish to cut through the Wymondham-Kimberley/Carleton Forehoe-Barnham Broom-Honingham corridor to join the A47. 

Having previously helped convene the South of the A47 Taskforce with a number of these communities to tackle increased rat-running in recent years (see more here), I am keen to ensure that the good work that has been done with them and the likes of NCC Highways and National Highways (and which is still ongoing) is not undermined. 

That’s why I have reached out to local councillors to better understand the feedback they are receiving from residents and businesses in their area, and why I have also raised the issue with NCC Highways and National Highways to see what more can be done. 

While we’ve seen extensive consideration as to how rat-running can be mitigated during (and after) the upcoming North Tuddenham-Easton A47 dualling works and the NWL extension to the Wood Lane/Berry’s Lane junction at Honingham, we need to ensure that the A11 improvement works, as well as the much bigger Thickthorn Roundabout improvements that are also to come, do not inadvertently exacerbate rat-running anyway – even if only on a temporary basis. I am committed to working with key stakeholders to make sure there is a temporary strategy while these works are being carried out, and a more permanent strategy that mitigates long term rat-running too. 

Rest assured, I will continue to actively work on this in the weeks and months ahead. 

To stay up to date, please keep checking my website for further updates.