Steering Group aims to improve A1307
fatal RTA A1307 the duel carraige way before linton at balsham crossroads
The future of a notorious road that links Haverhill to Cambridge was discussed at a safety group’s inaugural meeting last week.
Installing average speed cameras, hatching dual carriageway sections to make the road single lane all the way and reducing the speed limit to 50 throughout were all suggestions that were considered as the A1307 Steering Group met for the first time at Linton Village Hall last Thursday (January 24).
Euro MP Vicky Ford, Sir James Paice MP, representatives from Suffolk and Cambridgeshire county councils, St Edmundsbury Borough and South Cambridgeshire District councils and every parish council along the road between the A11 and Haverhill were all at the meeting of the group, reformed amid concerns about the road’s future.
Linton Parish Council chairman and SCDC Cllr Roger Hickford questioned what meetings the different councils have together regarding the road’s future, and requested greater collaboration in the future amidst concerns Suffolk did not contribute towards the road.
This was exemplified by no funds for road improvements being requested as part of planning permission being given for Haverhill Research Park in Hanchett End, although councillors said they were eager to have the park and that the cash was not there, with developer Nic Rumsey ‘taking a risk’ in building the science hub.
Having speed cameras to safeguard the playing fields of Linton Village College was suggested, but the site manager said they were not needed and extra trees were preferable.
Both councils agreed to start monitoring traffic on the A1307 again after Cambridgeshire admitted it had been relying on DFT figures since 2004, drawing laughter by suggesting traffic had fallen when Access 1307 figures said traffic Cambridge-bound in the morning rush hour had risen by 19 per cent between 2004 and 2012.
Sir James said: “Unless we have the right data we have faith in we can’t make realistic decisions to improve the road and address the capacity issues.
“This shows the feeling we’ve always had that the A1307 has been neglected and not treated as a priority.”
Ms Ford MEP said the road ‘cannot take any more - it’s full to capacity’ and that tri-county cooperation is needed for future developments.
Cllr Anne Gower, representing Matthew Hancock MP, said the A1307 was ‘high on the agenda’ for people in Haverhill.
Both county councils will now start monitoring traffic on the A1307 to ensure accurate data. Access 1307 statistics showed a 19 per cent rise in the morning rush hour traffic towards Cambridge – although the amount that was Haverhill bound fell.
It was agreed that funding for road improvements will be sought from future Haverhill developments after it was not requested. Haverhill Vision 2031, which sets out plans for thousands of new homes in the town, will provide ample opportunity to acquire future funding.
Ms Ford MEP said: “Growth has happened on the Haverhill or Essex side without investment coming to Cambridgeshire, so we need joined up thinking so we can’t get large residential or industrial sites happening without thought as to what happens this side of the border.”
For all the latest news see Thursday’s (February 7) Echo.
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Weather for Haverhill
Saturday 18 May 2013
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