Connectivity is vital for rural counties like our own. Without it, businesses and households are held back and unable to unlock their full potential – with access to vital public services and jobs much more difficult and prosperity stymied.

That’s why, throughout my time as local MP, I have campaigned hard to secure better road and rail infrastructure (see my detailed campaign pages here and here) – and why, as part of that work, I continue to be a strong advocate for dualling the A47.

Back in September, I wrote a piece in the Dereham Times (see here – and below) explaining why we must get on and deliver long promised A47 improvements (including the dualling of the stretch between North Tuddenham-Easton and the Thickthorn Roundabout redesign) – making clear my belief that the latest legal challenge of Dr Andrew Boswell was against the best interests of our great county and its communities.

I firmly stand by those comments now – and am disappointed to see Dr Boswell’s campaign is being supported by eco-activists and environmentalists in London and the South who don’t have to live with the daily nightmare of A47 traffic jams, rat-running and accidents like TV presenter Chris Packham and Chair of the Climate Crisis Advisory Group Sir David King.

Each legal challenge delays these vital improvements further, while driving up costs and wasting taxpayers’ valuable money.

While I’m not a blind advocate of mass road building and fully recognise the importance of tackling climate change and the need also to improve alternative transport such as rail, cycling and walking, there is no doubt in my mind that A47 dualling is a longstanding requirement for the people of Norfolk – one we need to get on and deliver.

We must not allow eco-activists from London and the South to block these key infrastructure improvements.

Instead, as I outlined in my Dereham Times article, the A47 improvements must be embraced as part of a broader vision for our area that focusses on sustainable development done “The Norfolk Way”, attracting the growth and prosperity our communities need while also using proper planning to build in the cleaner, greener, healthier model of life that we all want to see.

Rest assured, I remain committed to working with the A47 Alliance, fellow Eastern MPs and other partners to fight for the delivery of these A47 improvements as soon as possible.

By prioritising 21st century transport and cycle routes alongside road improvement works, properly planning housing development so that area does not become a concrete barrier of short term house dumping, and continuing to pioneer the incredible innovation already underway locally at the likes of the Norwich Research Park, Hethel Engineering Centre and Hingham Business Park on things like land management, conservation and habitat enhancement, we can generate local prosperity, create high-skilled jobs and improve the quality of life of us all, while also working to ensure our beautiful county remains a place in which people want to live, work and visit.

We can have both. We don’t have to choose.

I will be following the ongoing High Court hearing relating to Dr Boswell’s legal challenge closely.

To learn more on my work to improve the A47 (including to secure full dualling of the A47 from East to West), please visit my ‘Making Our Roads Fit For the 21st Century’ campaign page here.