Having finally secured the A47 dualling by bringing the then Prime Minister to Honingham back in 2014, it’s very frustrating that Mr. Boswell’s repeated legal objections to block the works have caused local people to suffer more accidents, delays, congestion and pollution. There’s nothing “green” about traffic jams. 

It’s great news that the High Court have rejected his case and I hope very much this isn’t now allowed to be escalated again to the Supreme Court.

We need to get on and dual the A47 for the sake of the hundreds of thousands who rely on it.

To learn more about my work regarding the A47, as well as my wider ‘Making Our Roads Fit For The 21st Century’ campaign, please visit my campaign page here.

More terrible flooding in Attleborough. More appalling trauma for all those households affected.

Thank you for the Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service and Breckland Council for their rapid response.

Am in urgent contact this morning with Breckland and the key local agencies to get a proper plan in place for the next few days with more heavy rain forecast.

Rearranging tomorrow’s constituency plans to get to Attleborough to see the scale of these floods for myself and thank local volunteers.

This has to stop. That’s why I’m pushing on with:

• Mid Norfolk Flood Partnership
• My Flooding Bill to change the planning and liability laws
• The Norfolk Flood Summit I’m convening to get all the c.36 agencies responsible together to stop the buck passing and sort it.

More on my work to tackle the Mill Lane culvert and watercourse flooding issues here.

More on my wider flooding campaign work here.

Every year 16,000 people are diagnosed with brain cancer.

That’s 2 people per hour.

New technology is opening up new treatments.

Patients & their charities are desperate to support research medicine.

That’s why, during my time as Minister for Life Sciences at the DHSC, Jeremy Hunt, James O’Shaughnessy & I secured £40m for brain cancer research via the NIHR.

But it’s very concerning to hear it’s been held up by slow bureaucratic processes — when patients are desperate.

Having worked to support Mid Norfolk cancer patients throughout my time as an MP, I was very glad to rejoin the All Party Parliamentary Group on Brain Tumours yesterday to discuss how to unlock this funding.

The A47 is a major transport artery into, and across, our great county. It has a crucial role to play if we are to unlock our region’s economic potential – delivering thousands of jobs, as well as the growth and prosperity needed, to help us ‘Build Back Better’ and ‘Level Up’. 

That’s why, with the North Tuddenham-Easton A47 dualling being held up by Dr Andrew Boswell’s legal case and ongoing disruption caused by flooding, I took the opportunity to meet with National Highways officials again today to discuss a number of key issues for my constituents.

A47 Flooding

The A47 Flooding between Honingham and Easton is currently due to the recent torrential rain filling the ditch with debris, despite regular dredging and pumping.

I have raised these issues extensively to date, but following my latest representations, National Highways have confirmed they will build settlement pits to hold water back, reducing the pressure on the rest of the infrastructure.

However, the real solution is dualling the road — so that it will then run higher, with a modern and fit for purpose drainage system, which will also benefit the existing road.

Localised Road Flooding

I also raised the flooding we have seen surrounding Dereham, such as at the old A47 near Dereham Cemetery, as well as in Attleborough.

It’s important the team at National Highways are aware of these issues — and I am picking them up with Norfolk County Council too (who are responsible for the drainage).

Accident Blackspots

We see too many tragic accidents along the A47 — not least at the Draytonhall Lane Junction in Scarning, at Little Fransham and at Necton.

Having already secured improvements to the Necton junction, I am very much aware there is more to do — especially given that the push for full dualling of this section is ongoing.

That is why I am pushing, alongside the A47 Alliance, for this part of the A47 to receive additional priority funding under the third round of the Roads Investment Strategy to make this vital route safer for all.

National Highways have shown a willingness to prioritise these vital improvements — which will improve safety for all until we can unlock funding for end-to-end dualling. Watch this space for developments…

A47 Dualling – Judgment

Tomorrow, we are expecting the final judgment from the Court of Appeal regarding the A47 dualling.

Having brought the then-Prime Minister to Mid Norfolk to secure the A47 funding, this has since dragged on for far too long.

The A47 dualling is vital — to reduce emissions from traffic jams, reduce journey times, and save lives.

Dr Boswell and the eco-warriors funding his campaign have delayed this happening — whilst local residents face accidents, delays, and flooding.

That is why I hope that tomorrow we will see the Court of Appeal finally give the green light for us to get on with this vital upgrade — and put an end to Dr Boswell & Co wasting taxpayer’s money and causing delays through unnecessary legal challenges.

Rest assured, I will continue to speak up for Mid Norfolk on these issues.

To find out more about my work ‘Making Our Roads Fit For The 21st Century’, please visit my campaign here

George Freeman highlights the huge potential of the innovation economy in creating hundreds of thousands of new tech jobs, in clusters all around the country, and calls on the Department for Education to work with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology to ensure job creation plans are built into local skills improvement plans on the ground.

Space Industry Skills Gap

George Freeman (Mid Norfolk) (Con)

3. What steps her Department is taking to tackle the space industry skills gap. (901499)

The Minister for Science, Research and Innovation (Andrew Griffith)

Delivering a national space strategy is a key priority for me and the Department. I recognise that a strong space workforce is critical to this, and my hon. Friend will be pleased to know that we will be publishing a space workforce action plan later this year.

George Freeman 

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his answer and for his work on this. He knows, as I do, that the innovation economy in this country is creating hundreds of thousands of new jobs. Indeed, 500,000 are forecast over the next 10 years in space, agritech, cleantech engineering and bio, in clusters all around the country, as the recent cluster map showed. Will he ensure that the excellent Department for Education future skills unit liaises closely with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology cluster team to make sure that we are properly building the job creation plans into the local skills improvement plans on the ground?

Andrew Griffith 

My hon. Friend has done so much to advance the interests of skills in the sector during his many years of public service, and he is quite right to draw attention to the successful cluster map that was launched by the Secretary of State 10 days ago. The development of skills is a shared responsibility between Government and industry and we take our responsibilities in that respect very seriously.

Hansard

With Storm Babet still fresh in the memories of the 100+ Attleborough households and businesses flooded back in October, I am very aware of the ongoing pressure and stress heavy rainfall is putting upon many of my constituents in the town.

That’s why, since the multi-agency meeting I convened last month to strengthen coordination between stakeholders at all levels, I have continued to take a close interest with local councillors.

I recently joined a stakeholder conversation to discuss the Mill Lane culvert and receive an update on progress, and can confirm that:

• The design for the new Mill Lane culvert trash screen has now been approved and costed – with Norfolk County Council, Breckland Council and Anglian Water all reaffirming their commitment to share those costs and proceed as quickly as possible.

(As highlighted previously however, the new trash screen may not be in place for several months – with the screen itself taking up to a month to construct and then stakeholders having to wait until the water level has dropped sufficiently and the watercourse can be dewatered for the construction of the screen’s concrete base).

• NCC have had the culverts at Mill Lane and Briar Gardens inspected again. Deposits of gravel and silt have been found in parts and NCC are pressing ahead with arrangements to have these cleared – with the necessary contractors set to carry out works in early March.

In addition to this, I can share news that:

• I continue to support NCC’s Flood and Water Management team and local councillors as they engage with landowners upstream to explore potential flood prevention and mitigation measures on their land.

• NCC sent riparian ownership reminder letters to landowners and homeowners along the problem watercourse in mid-January to remind them of their riparian responsibilities and make clear what they must not throw into the stream.

• NCC are working with the Internal Drainage Board to lobby Network Rail to inspect and, if necessary, clear the culvert they are responsible for downstream under the A11.

• Stakeholders continue to look at what more can be done to protect the most at risk properties this winter.

Once again, I’ve reiterated the importance of looking at the longer term issue of responsibility and maintenance of the culverts and watercourses – and I will be involved in the next Mill Lane culvert stakeholder meeting next week as these vital conversations continue.

I am also arranging the next wider multi-agency meeting on the Attleborough flooding too.

Rest assured, I will continue to work with local councillors and residents to hold the key stakeholders to account on this to drive forward the solutions Attleborough needs to see.

To learn more on the Attleborough Flooding campaign to date, please scroll down and read the updates below.

To learn more about my wider ‘Flooding and the Mid Norfolk Flood Partnership’ campaign, please click the link here.

UPDATE 17 January 2024

Storm Babet flooded over 100 homes in Attleborough back in October and local residents (for some of which the recent flooding was the fourth time they had been affected) are rightly furious.

That’s why, as part of my ongoing Mid Norfolk Flood Partnership and Flooding Campaign work, I continue to take an active role in supporting those affected and holding the key stakeholders to account – both here in Mid Norfolk, but also in Westminster.

While a number of short and medium term measures have already been carried out or are underway (see here), the incredibly high water levels at the Mill Lane culvert and watercourse at the start of the new year, and the serious risk residents are having to take in order to protect their homes, shows more must be done.

Last week, I convened a multi-agency meeting with representatives from Norfolk County Council, the Norfolk Strategic Flooding Alliance, Breckland Council, the local Internal Drainage Board, Anglian Water, Natural England, the Environment Agency – as well as local Town, Parish, District and County Councillors and representatives of local landowners upstream of the Mill Lane culvert and watercourse – to emphasise again the importance of tackling these serious issues and explore in greater depth the short, medium and long term work required to significantly reduce future flood risk.

I drew particular attention to those homeowners most at risk of flooding on Mill Lane – many of whom feel helpless and desperate, believing they have no choice but to seriously risk their own safety to try and keep the trash screen across the Mill Lane culvert clear each time it rains.

The key discussion points from the meeting were:

• A shared acknowledgement that residents are seriously risking their own safety to keep the Mill Lane culvert trash screen clear of debris – and of the fact that conditions and circumstances at the culvert can change rapidly during periods of heavy rain.

• Agreement that the existing Mill Lane culvert trash screen should not be removed until the new replacement has been installed (work currently underway – see here) – as the culvert has a 90 degree bend that, were it to become blocked, would be extremely difficult and costly to clear – and significantly worsen the current flood risk to the area.

• NCC Flood and Water Management officials met with Anglian Water contractors on-site (the day prior the meeting) to verify the new trash screen designs ahead of pricing the work – with a multi-agency agreement already in place to fund it.

• The installation of the new trash screen will likely not be possible prior to the summer. This is because the watercourse will need to be de-watered so that a new concrete base can be constructed and the trash screen fitted.

• Further measures are therefore required in the short term to try and reduce flood risk along the watercourse and at the Mill Lane culvert.

• NCC are going to work with local landowners and other stakeholders to explore installing an additional, temporary screen somewhere upstream that can catch debris and prevent it becoming a problem in Attleborough itself.

• The Mill Lane culvert, and others along the watercourse, cannot be expanded – nor the watercourse itself deepened or widened – due to the amount of development and road access around and across it. The enormous cost and disruption, and lack of space, make it impossible.

• Given concerns over residents and local councillors risking their safety by entering the watercourse to keep the Mill Lane culvert trash screen clear, a suggestion was made to appoint a jointly funded contractor to be on 24/7 call out to clear debris and blockages at the culvert trash screen when required. This suggestion was dismissed on the basis that no organisation would allow their staff to entering the water in storm flow conditions (when they would be most needed) – especially if Norfolk Fire and Rescue themselves have said the risk would be too great for even their own teams.

• A suggestion was made to explore how the watercourse may, long term, be diverted to another course away from the town. Flooding Officers explained this would probably not be possible given local topography.

• It is therefore not possible to immediately remove all flood risk. Instead, agencies must work with the properties most at risk to do as much as possible to improve their flood resilience.

• NCC have also submitted a bid to the Natural Flood Management Fund, supported by myself and others, and I am working with them and local landowners upstream to explore how we might deliver a Flood Mitigation and Water Storage Scheme that could drastically reduce the long term flood risk to homeowners and businesses in Attleborough (see more here)

• Everyone affected in the area by flooding in October must formally report their cases via the Norfolk County Council website to enable the Flood Investigations underway to be as accurate as possible – which in turn will strengthen the hand of local stakeholders to lobby for additional funding and support.

• NCC are to look at monitoring water volumes and storm flows on the watercourse – again to strengthen their hand when lobbying for resources.

• Local councillors asked what more could be done to improve safety for those homeowners currently taking risks to keep the Mill Lane culvert trash screen clear. It was asked if lighting and cameras could be installed.

• I reiterated my ongoing support for all the efforts to tackle these flooding issues – and highlighted my efforts in Westminster to bring about the national reform needed also (see more here)

As is clear, this isn’t an easy fix – with multiple challenges faced. However, I am determined to all I can to support the community.

The key focusses/timescales moving forward are:

Short Term (Now-next few weeks)

• Doing as much as possible to improve the flood resilience of the most at risk properties
• Explore what more can be done to improve safety for those putting themselves at risk to keep the Mill Lane culvert trash screen clear
• Find a suitable location for an additional, temporary screen upstream to collect debris – and explore additional short term measures upstream that can reduce flood risk

Medium Term (Summer)

• Replacement of the existing trash screen with a new one that is designed specifically for the challenges being faced.
• Continue to explore what measures can be introduced to reduce flood risk.

Longer Term

• Deliver a Flood Mitigation and Water Storage Scheme upstream that can significantly reduce flood risk
• Deliver legislative changes and reform in the House to better empower local communities so that they can protect themselves from flooding, while also holding developers to account when new housing exacerbates local problems.

Rest assured, I will keep working tirelessly on this issue.

To stay up to date, please visit my flooding campaign page here.

UPDATE 4 December 2023

Over 100 homes in Attleborough were flooded in Storm Babet at the end of October.

We cannot allow this to happen again. Local residents (for some of which the recent flooding was the fourth time they had been impacted) are rightly furious.

That’s why earlier today, as part of my ongoing campaign (and having recently reconvened the Mid Norfolk Flood Partnership that I established back in early 2021 – see here), I met with Norfolk County Council’s Flood and Water Management team, the Norfolk Strategic Flooding Alliance and representatives for some of the landowners upstream of the Mill Lane culvert and watercourse.

It’s clear that that we need a proper long term strategic plan that addresses problem watercourse pinch points AND looks to better control the flow of water downstream during heavy rainfall events. While some positive progress is already being made at the Mill Lane culvert itself (as explained in my previous Attleborough Flooding campaign update here), today’s call focused on what can be done further upstream – and I am committed to actively supporting NCC/the NSFA and partners as they work with landowners and other agencies to explore what flood mitigation and water storage scheme measures might work best for Attleborough.

To see all of my recent work supporting Attleborough residents, please click here or see below.

For full details on all of my flooding campaign work, please visit my website here.

UDPATE 29 November 2023

Attleborough was one of several Mid Norfolk communities badly impacted by recent flooding.

That’s why, as part of my ongoing campaign, I visited Mill Lane with Cllrs Samantha and Taila Taylor this past Friday to see the problem culvert/watercourse first hand and meet with some of the worst affected residents.

Please see my video above.

Local residents (for some of which the recent flooding was the fourth time they had been impacted) are rightly furious – and I continue to hold the key stakeholders to account to ensure everything that can be done is indeed being done to provide affected residents with the support they need, as well as to put in place a short, medium and long term plan that looks to try and prevent future such flooding again in future.

Some positive progress is already being made (as explained in my previous Attleborough Flooding campaign update here), but there still remains much more to do.

That’s why, as highlighted in my recent update here, I recently reconvened the Mid Norfolk Flood Partnership to give our communities the strongest possible voice on these issues. Attleborough had strong representation on that call and I am determined to do everything I can, alongside local councillors, to ensure residents like those on Mill Lane and surrounding streets are heard.

I will be involved in more meetings in the coming days and am also writing to ministers and officials in Westminster to re-emphasise again the need to put greater emphasis on flooding and drainage matters in the planning process – including putting increased responsibility on developers who’s developments subsequently flood and/or impact the existing community.

To stay up to date with all my work on these issues, please visit my Flooding campaign page here.

UPDATE 3 November 2023

Further to my webstory update last week (see here), I can now provide more information on the work being done by multiple parties to address the terrible flooding that has recently affected many households and businesses in Attleborough. 

On Monday, the Town Council and local district and county councillors held a public meeting in the town for local residents to speak with key stakeholders. The event was well attended and I am pleased to report that stakeholders have been following up on a number of the points and concerns raised – with additional site visits undertaken to the culvert and watercourse on Mill Lane (as well as the culvert in Briar Gardens). Meetings with developers to assess drainage on their building sites have also taken place and I am aware that a series of additional measures, along with further clearing of drains and ditches, are already being implemented – with anecdotal reports of additional blockages being addressed. I will continue to monitor progress closely.

Further to the emergency meeting I held last week (see here), an urgent meeting took place on Tuesday between Norfolk County Council, the Norfolk Strategic Flooding Alliance, Breckland Council and Anglian Water to discuss in greater depth the specific issues that caused flooding at the Mill Lane culvert and connected watercourse. 

As many are aware, the culvert and watercourse were divested to riparian ownership many years ago. While that question of who will take on the long term ownership remains (and rest assured that I continue to push very hard on that and have challenged all stakeholders to work collaboratively to develop a proper strategic plan and solution for the issue), I welcome the collective recognition that something needs to be done as soon as possible, with agreement that the inadequate and unsafe trash screen that caused many of the recent problemsneeds to be replaced.

On a without prejudice basis (of who will assume long term responsibility for the culvert and watercourse) and as a gesture of goodwill, Anglian Water have agreed to have their contractors assess the trash screen and culvert and work up the design for a much safer, more effective replacement. All stakeholders will then jointly fund the improved screen and Anglian Water will install it.

In the meantime (and again on a without prejudice basis and as a gesture of goodwill), Anglian Water will endeavour to send staff every couple of weeks to keep the existing trash screen clear. (Breckland, NCC and Anglian Water are also discussing a longer term plan for removing any debris collected from the culvert and watercourse)

I would like to reiterate however that I will keep on the critical question of who will assume the long term responsibility and ownership of the culvert and watercourse – and am already liaising with the key stakeholders on the date for a follow-up meeting to discuss that matter further.

NCC have also confirmed that the gulleys around Mill Lane have been cleared (with additional review taking place of gulleys on surrounding streets) and I understand that an assessment is taking place as to whether the trash screen at the Briar Gardens culvert should be removed. 

A full flood investigation is now being led by NCC in line with their statutory processes. Although their Flood and Water Management team had already been working on proposals to better mitigate flooding in this area (as a result of the December 23rd-24th 2020 flooding event), there is recognition that their Flood Plan for the area, and its associated work, now needs accelerating and upscaling. I have committed to supporting NCC as they seek to secure the additional funding required to implement any recommended measures, as well as to engage with key local landowners.

I am also in the process of reconvening the Mid Norfolk Flood Partnership I previously established – and will ensure Attleborough is represented in those vital conversations.

Rest assured, I am determined to do everything I can to speak up for those affected in Attleborough, as well as those across Mid Norfolk.

UPDATE 25 October 2023

Storm Babet has reminded us again why we must continue to take flooding seriously.

Attleborough was one of several Mid Norfolk communities badly impacted, with severe flooding on Mill Lane, Norwich Road, Ferguson Way and other nearby streets. For some, it was the fourth time they had been flooded in 30 years – and the second time in just under three years. I appreciate, and share, the immense anger and frustration felt by those that have been forced to leave their homes as a result of the damage suffered this past weekend.

That’s why I held an emergency meeting today with Norfolk County Council and their Norfolk Strategic Flooding Alliance, Anglian Water and Breckland District Council to get to the bottom of what is causing the flooding at the watercourse and culvert on Mill Lane, as well as ensure that those with statutory flooding responsibilities come together and develop an urgent action plan.

While NCC began working on proposals to address flooding at this location in light of the December 2020 flooding, Storm Babet has brought into sharper focus the need to upscale and accelerate those proposals, and address other issues such as questions around which authority is responsible for the culvert and watercourse and therefore who should be maintaining them.

I had made clear that there needs to be:

1. A proper plan for ensuring affected residents (and the wider community) are protected from further flooding this winter.
2. An acceleration and upscaling of efforts to put in place a long term solution.
3. A proper plan for who is going to be responsible for this culvert and watercourse in due course.
4. Agreement on who is going to keep the culvert and watercourse clear NOW – while the longer term plan is being developed and implemented.

I am in close contact with local district councillors and a number of those worst affected by the flooding and am determined to help them work with key stakeholders to develop a solution.

We must see action. This must not be allowed to happen again. And residents should not be risking their own safety to try and keep this culvert clear during storms and heavy rainfall.

More widely, I will be reconvening the Mid Norfolk Flood Partnership I established as a result of the Winter 2020/21 flooding to help support those affected by Storm Babet and ensure our communities have the strongest possible voice heading into this autumn/winter.

Rest assured, I will continue to support councillors and residents in the days, weeks and months ahead.

To see my Flooding Update earlier this week, please click here

To find out more about my historic campaign work on flooding, please visit my campaign page here

We all want to see vibrant local businesses providing important employment opportunities and boosting our local communities.

However, this must not come at the unreasonable expense of Mid Norfolk’s precious rural quality of life or the sustainability of our country roads and local services.

That’s why I continue to take seriously the very real concerns of local people in Griston (and surrounding villages) regarding proposals to transform a light, community-focused light industrial unit into one much more focussed on heavy industry – just meters from residential houses.

Further to my recent site visit to meet with concerned parish councillors and residents in Griston, as well as my formal submission to Breckland Council (who’s Planning Committee will determine the three applications in question), I have also today written to the Secretary of State to ask what more can be done to protect rural villages like Griston and ensure the National Planning Policy Framework does not encourage inappropriate heavy industry in our rural communities.

See my letter below.

Rest assured, I will continue to work with local councillors and community groups to speak up on behalf of and support my Mid Norfolk towns and villages when faced by wholly inappropriate and/or unsustainable applications.

To find out more on my work on this issue to date, please scroll down below.

To find out more about my wider ‘Planning and Protecting Our Rural Landscape and Heritage’ campaign, please visit my campaign page here.

UPDATE - 13 February 2024

We all want to see vibrant local businesses providing important employment opportunities and boosting our local communities.

However, this must not come at the unreasonable expense of Mid Norfolk’s precious rural quality of life or the sustainability of our country roads and local services.

That’s why I met with local residents in Griston recently to discuss in greater depth widespread local concerns at proposals to transform a light, community-focused industrial unit into one focussed on heavy industry — just meters from residential houses.

See my video above.

Having already written to the leader of Breckland before Christmas to make my opposition to the proposal clear, I very much understand why the proposals are of such concern to the local community – and will continue to do everything I can to help make their voices heard.

I will also be flagging the case to DLUHC ministers as an example of why we must ensure rural communities have a strong voice when applications for inappropriate heavy industry are brought forward in their area.

The proposals here would make much more sense down at the industrial park at Snetterton, not in the heart of small rural village.

To find out more information on my work supporting Griston villagers on this issue, please click here

My formal submission to the Breckland Planning Process can be seen below.

The heavy rainfall over recent days has brought yet more flooding and delays to the A47 between Honingham and Easton. We absolutely must see an end to these repeated disruptions.

While National Highways have already taken urgent action to improve drainage following my extensive representations to their Regional Director for the East, along with his team, it’s clear more still needs to be done by National Highways to properly grip these issues and prevent them happening again.

That’s why, on Wednesday, I am meeting with National Highways in Parliament to raise the matter again. We must see an end to these problems.

I will also use the opportunity to raise accident blackspots like the A47 Draytonhall Lane Junction once more and call for more safety improvements – in addition to reemphasising the importance of fully dualling the A47 all the way from Lowestoft in the East to the A1 in Cambridgeshire to the West.

I am determined to speak up for Mid Norfolk on these crucial issues.

To find out more on my work to hold stakeholders to account and address the A47 flooding, please see below.

To learn more about my work on ‘Making Our Roads Fit For the 21st Century’, please click here.

UPDATE - 6 January 2024

The repeated floodings and delays on the A47 have to stop.

It’s the key arterial route on which all of us depend.  These constant floods and delays hit local businesses, villages and all of us who rely on this key road.

Following my extensive discussions with National Highways previously, they have taken urgent action to improve drainage (see my past updates below). But it is clearly not enough.

That is why I am picking this up with them again today as a matter of urgency to make sure they sort out proper flood prevention.

We must also get on with the dualling works as quickly as possible. People have waited over a decade since I got the then Prime Minister to commit to fund the dualling (see here).  We now need to get it done with proper drainage infrastructure as part of the county-wide flood prevention works that NCC are leading through their Norfolk Strategic Flooding Alliance – itself based on the recommendations of the Mid Norfolk Flood Partnership I established here in our area (see here).

Rest assured, I will keep on this.

To see the recent EDP article on this latest flooding, please click here.

UPDATE - 24 November 2023

Further to my previous update last week (see here – and below), I have now received an additional briefing from National Highways with regards to the flooding issues on the A47 at Honingham – which have affected many of my Mid Norfolk constituents.

While heavy, unprecedented rainfall has taken place over recent weeks, the Regional Director for National Highways and his team have again assured me that preventing the repeated flooding issues remains a high priority.

Having replaced a damaged surface water drainage pipe following Storms Babet and Ciaran, additional works were then undertaken to clear some nearby trees and a portion of garden wall that were found to be impeding water flow, and causing root damage to the previous pipe. With additional rainfall forecast last weekend, they also had crews standing by to pump any excess water away should there be a build up.

As we saw, unfortunately, those crews were required and National Highways have therefore been taking further action – working with nearby landowners to ensure their land is sufficiently worked (ploughed) post-harvest to minimise surface water-run off and reduce the chance of silt build up in the drainage pipes. Silt walls have also been installed to further mitigate silt build up in drainage pipes – with those pipes also being regularly monitored and cleared by NH crews.

Nevertheless, NH continue to follow the weather forecast and have crews monitoring the location closely. They are equipped with pumps should additional flooding occur. NH are prepared to undertake further works if required.

Rest assured, I will keep on this issue – and am due to speak with the NH Regional Director again on Monday. (To stay up to date with all my work on this issue, and my wider flooding campaign, please visit my campaign page here)

This issue highlights again the importance of dualling this section of the A47 – which improve the flow of traffic during heavy rainfall and enable a much larger and more effective drainage system to be introduced at this location (and others). To see my recent EDP article on why this A47 dualling is so vital, please click here and visit my campaign page here 

UPDATE - 21 November 2023

Having raised the recent, repeated flooding issues on the A47 with National Highways and made clear that they need to urgently grip and address them (see my previous webstories here and here), I share the frustration of many of my constituents after further flooding occurred between Honingham and Easton again last week.

That’s why I am raising the matter with the Regional Director for National Highways again.

Commuters and local communities should not have to face this constant disruption. The A47 is a key transport artery and it’s vital that it isn’t closed due to flooding – or subject to severe delays.

It’s clear that recent works to repair a damaged pipe that should have taken surface water to the nearby River Tud were insufficient. NH must move quickly to implement further solutions.

Rest assured, I will keep on this – and hope to provide a further update soon.

To find out more about my wider flooding campaign work, please visit my website here.

To see more on my work ‘Making Our Roads Fit for the 21st Century’, please visit my website here.

UPDATE - 8 November 2023

The A47 is a key transport artery through our county – which is why I shared widespread local frustration at the fact that it was closed multiple times recently due to flooding at Honingham.

Having picked this matter up with National Highways and made clear that they needed to grip the issue and resolve it, I have now received an update confirming that, while most of the flooding could be attributed to sustained heavy rainfall on already saturated ground, subsequent investigations found that a pipe that should have taken surface water to the nearby River Tud was damaged.

National Highways have confirmed that work is underway to replace the damaged section of pipe – which should reduce the chance of such flooding occurring on this section of the A47 again. However, they have also made clear that they remain committed to resolving any other identified issues that may be found.

Rest assured, I will continue to follow progress closely – as part of my ongoing flooding campaign in Mid Norfolk (see here)

UPDATE - 30 October 2023

The A47 is a key transport artery through our county and I share frustration that it has been closed multiple times over recent days due to flooding.

National Highways need to grip the issue. Commuters and local communities should not have to face this constant disruption.

Rest assured, I am following up with National Highways as part of my ongoing flooding campaign work on behalf of Mid Norfolk. 

To stay up to date with my flooding campaign, please visit my campaign page here

To see yesterday’s EDP article, please click here  

Seeing first-hand the flooding on the old A47 recently, it is both a clear hazard and nuisance to local residents.

As promised, I have been picking this up with Norfolk County Council to make sure that there is appropriate drainage in place (see my previous webstory here).

Whilst the drains were cleared ahead of the winter period, and the existing system should be able to cope with normal levels of rainfall, the recent flooding shows that more needs to be done.

That’s why I am pleased to share that Norfolk County Council are arranging further inspections and works to review and improve drainage, with flood signs being put up in the interim to minimise danger to motorists.

Travelling throughout Mid Norfolk on a regular basis for constituency days, I know how frustrating flooded roads are for all — which is why I shall continue to pick these issues up with local stakeholders.

In Westminster, I’m introducing a bill to tackle flooding & place proper responsibility on developers.

You can see more on my work on flooding, including setting up the Mid Norfolk Flood Alliance, here – and my work to make our roads fit for the 21st century here.

Having run a small business before becoming an MP, and having previously been a Business Minister, I have always sought to support the hard-working entrepreneurs who are the backbone of our Norfolk economy.

That’s why I was pleased to attend the Norfolk Chambers’ ‘Big Debate 2024’ event this past Friday – a key opportunity to engage with local businesses both big and small, discussing the key issues affecting them here in Norfolk – including Norfolk’s Innovation Economy and Net Zero and Sustainability.

Having secured almost a billion pounds of investment in to the Norwich Research Park and been one of the biggest advocates of the likes of the Hethel Engineering Centre, Easton Food Enterprise Hub and Hingham Enterprise Park during my time as an MP – all of which fuel our local Innovation Economy and provide high-skilled and well-paid jobs for local people across Norfolk, I know that the transition can be done in a way that drives forward our local economy.

Our region is at the forefront of some of the most exciting, high growth sectors of tomorrow – and I am determined to make sure Mid Norfolk gets to access those opportunities and share in the prosperity they are already generating in our local communities.

I will also continue to shine a light on, and be a strong voice for, the thousands of wonderful, innovative small and medium sized businesses doing fantastic work across a wide variety of local sectors – from food and drink to high level engineering and environmental tourism.

More on my work to drive forward Norfolk’s Innovation Economy can be found here.

To find our more about my work ‘Backing Local Businesses’, please click here.