Enough is enough. Back in 2014 I brought the then Prime Minister to Mid Norfolk who committed £300m for Phase 1 of full dualling of the A47 and improvements between North Tuddenham and Easton. Six years later and Highways England have still not started these works. Meanwhile, people are dying on our roads and business investment is on hold. It is time for action.

I was, therefore, delighted to join the A47 Alliance again this past Friday with fellow Norfolk MPs Jerome Mayhew and Duncan Baker and agree to:

• Take all MPs to lobby the new Chancellor
• Convene a Business Partnership Summit
• Volunteer to lead a new Task Force on how we can show private investment to boost the business case

Although these infrastructure improvements will represent massive progress for our area, it is also vital that we ensure that a proper strategic plan is put in place to prevent any rat-running problems through local communities. Back in October, at the request of a number of local Parish Councils, I attended a public meeting at St Peter’s Church in Kimberley to hear in greater detail their concerns about this potential increase in rat-running through our rural communities. It was decided that a local Taskforce would be created to co-ordinate the villages affected and work with local councillors, county and district officers, Highways England officials, the A47 Alliance and countryside groups to oversee the development of a proper Plan around the works. You can keep up-to-date with the work of the Task Force via the campaign on my website here: https://www.georgefreeman.co.uk/content/a47-rat-running-campaign-and-taskforce-0

While the Taskforce wants EVERYONE to submit their views to the dedicated Norfolk County Council and Highways England consultations, it would also like to ask members of the public to share their views with the Taskforce directly as well. To submit your views to the Taskforce, please email them at: A47taskforce@outlook.com

Friday’s constituency day began at Carbrooke - meeting with parish, district and county councillors as well as school governors to discuss the poor footpath facilities for children waking from Blenheim Grange to the village school. It is simply not acceptable for primary school children to have to walk 2 miles down a narrow country lane with no footpath and fast traffic to get to school.

Although I am no longer a Minister at the Department for Transport, I continue to take a keen interest in transport matters – especially ones which have a direct impact on Mid Norfolk.

A fundamental of a good transport system is ensuring that EVERYONE has access to our railway stations, and for too long those who are disabled, or with bicycles or prams, have struggled to access Platform 2 of Wymondham Station. Many have to travel to Norwich or Attleborough to use the disabled facilities there in order for them to be able to switch sides and continue with their journeys. This is clearly unacceptable.

That’s why I am pleased that the government is taking access issues seriously across the country, with £20 million of funding being provided for accessibility improvements. I am hoping that our bid submitted via the Wymondham Station Task Force with Greater Anglia and South Norfolk District Council for disabled access facilities at Wymondham Station will be successful.

In the meantime of this being considered, I continue to work closely with the Task Force of the relevant parties and will continue to push for access for all.

You can read more about the government announcement here.