Lib Dems celebrate victory over government A14 inquiry

2.42.00pm GMT Wed 3rd Feb 2010

Sian Reid

Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrats are celebrating victory after the government announced it is to hold a public inquiry into the widening of the A14.

They claim the decision to hear objections to the Ellington to Fen Ditton stretch is long overdue.

Cambridge MP David Howarth said: "This decision is long overdue. It is only right that the very people who are to be directly affected by these plans should have their voices heard.

"I am delighted that the government is taking this action. Maybe now we can have a more common sense approach to the problems on the A14 rather than simply throwing money at them."

Julian Huppert, the party's parliamentary candidate for Cambridge said: "This is excellent news. Objectors will have a chance to voice their concerns directly to the government.

"We have always maintained that widening the A14 would cause more problems than it solves and bring thousands more cars into Cambridge. There is a better way."

Sian Reid, Cambridge City Executive Councillor for Change and Growth said: "This decision is welcome, long overdue and inevitable given the number of objections to the scheme. Widening this road has severe implications for Cambridge and it would have been totally wrong to push ahead without talking to the very people who would be directly affected.

"We have always maintained there are cheaper, quicker, safer alternatives to this road building project. Now there is a chance for us to tell the government first hand why this is such an ill-thought out scheme."