0 Comments | Nottingham Evening Post, Sep 3, 2010 | by Jayne Garfitt

THE campaign to secure government funding for improvements to the A453 has moved up a gear.

A group of MPs, local authority chiefs and business leaders got together at Alliance Boots yesterday to show solidarity for the bid and hammer out a plan of action.

A dossier of evidence will now be compiled and presented to Secretary of State for Transport Philip Hammond ahead of the Government’s announcement in October of where its spending priorities lie.

The meeting was brokered by Derbyshire and Nottingha mshire Chamber of Commerce.

Councillor Jane Urquhart, portfolio-holder for transport at Nottingham City Council, was delighted with the high level of support shown.

She said: “It’s really great to see everyone pulling together in support of the widening of the A453.

“We need to ensure that this campaign is maintained at the very highest level and put forward the case that the A453 is a key economic driver, not just for Nottingham, but the wider region.”

Plans to widen the road were deferred indefinitely earlier this year as part of a review of government spending designed to save Pounds 6.2 billion next year. It is thought the scheme, which could cost up to Pounds 194 million, would deliver estimated economic benefits of more than Pounds 320 million to the region.

The Post has campaigned for the road to become a dual carriageway.

Notts County Council leader Kay Cutts said: “Everyone who attended the meeting was in the same mind – that the dualling of the A453 is vital to the economy of the city and county, with wider implications for the airport and access to other areas of the UK.

“In such stringent times, no-one can afford for this scheme to be held back any longer.”

More than 20 businesses also attended the meeting or gave their support to the campaign, including Trent Barton, East Midlands Airport, Imperial Tobacco, Nottingham Trent University, Experian, and the Broadmarsh and Victoria shopping centres.

The group will invite Mr Hammond to Nottingham to present the business case for proceeding with the A453 improvement scheme ahead of the Comprehensive Spending Review announcement on October 20.

Chief executive of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber, George Cowcher, is determined the campaign will be successful. He said: “It is very pleasing to get businesses, local authorities and politicians from all sides in agreement on this issue.

“We all recognise how important it is that the investment is secured to dual the A453 and we will be stepping up our efforts to ensure that this happens by taking this campaign to the very highest level.”

Post Comment: See Page 14 THE NEW car up for grabs in the Nottingham Post competition is now on show.

Readers will be able to see the gleaming chilli red Toyota Yaris TR displayed in the Victoria Centre.

The competition to win the car, given away by Inchcape Toyota, Derby Road, Nottingham, launches on Monday.

Sales manager Craig Carter is pleased to be involved in the give- away.

He said: “We are very happy to be giving away a car to someone who could potentially not afford one normally.

The Toyota Yaris is a smooth, stable, reliable family car and very economical. Whoever wins the competition is getting a great car.”

The five-door car has a one-litre engine and features alloy wheels, air conditioning, front fog lights, , electric mirrors and front windows, seven air bags and a leather steering wheel and gear stick
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