I share the disappointment about the cancellation of the project to dual the A120 between Braintree and Marks Tey.

Not only is this depressing news, it is also puzzling.

It flies in the face of a roads strategy with which I became acquainted 32 years ago.

One of the first issues I faced on becoming Halstead’s MP was what was to be done about the road between Cambridge and Colchester, then known as the A604.

The weight of traffic experienced by Halstead and many of villages along its route prompted calls for by-passes. Sturmer, in particular, I remember as being a terrifying place to be a pedestrian.

When I lobbied county highways and transport ministers about relief measures, I was patiently told that in good time all would be well.

Traffic from the east coast ports would have two principal routes to take them to and from the Midlands and the north-west.

The first, on completion of the Orwell Bridge, would be the A12/A14; the second would be the A120/M11.

This removed any need for A604 upgrades. In fact, it would be downgraded.

The A12/A14 route is open and the A604 downgraded.

What is glaringly missing is the dualling of a key section of the A120.

Successive governments have dragged their feet over this. It took too long to get the A120 improvement between Stansted and Braintree.

Having got it, the failure to proceed with this last stretch is ludicrous.

Although ports traffic was the main reason for the original strategy, you would have thought development of Stansted Airport would have added to the case for upgrading the A120.

So what now? The volume of traffic will grow.

Delays will occur. Lines of stationary vehicles will pollute the atmosphere. I say again, ludicrous.

Sir Alan Haselhurst
MP for Saffron Walden