A14 public inquiry date set for July

A PUBLIC inquiry into the proposed revamp of the A14 is to take place in July.

An exact date is yet to be revealed but the venue will be at the St Ives Business Park, according to the Highways Agency website.

The inquiry into the �1billion-plus road scheme has been ordered by communities secretary John Denham and transport secretary Lord Adonis.

It follows a public consultation on proposals for rebuilding the A14 between Ellington and Fen Ditton.

The Government is expected to decide later this year or early 2011 if the rebuilding plan will go-ahead. If approved, work is scheduled to start in spring 2012.

The scheme will widen the A14 to three lanes in each direction between Fen Drayton and Fen Ditton and create a new three-lane dual carriageway between Fen Drayton and the A1, around the south of Huntingdon and Godmanchester.

Major new interchanges will be built at Brampton, Fen Drayton and Girton.

The scheme will also include a new two lane dual carriageway to the west of Huntingdon between Ellington and the A1 and the detrunking of the existing A14 between the A1 and Fen Drayton and the removal of the Huntingdon Railway Viaduct.

MP for Huntingdonshire Jonathan Djanogly welcomed the news as "a step forward".

Mr Djanogly said: "I'm very pleased that a date has been set for the public inquiry. I hope that everyone with an issue to raise will do so and that any necessary changes can be made so we can get this road built. People really want to see this happen."

He added: "I fully support the building of this road and will continue to push the Government, no matter what colour to get this project completed."

John Bridge, chief executive of Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce, said: "I hope they get on with the public inquiry and keep to the timetable as we don't want any more slippages.