Third crossing promise

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Page 34

[email protected] ANDREW PAPWORTH

It was a firm and clear commitment - under the Conservatives, Prime Minister David Cameron said Lowestoft WILL get a third crossing by 2020.

Now the town asks...can you keep your promise?

On a visit to Lowestoft just ahead of the general election, Mr Cameron said the long awaited new bridge over Lake Lothing “has got to be done in the next Parliament. It has gone on long enough”.

He added that: “The electorate know what they’re getting with the Conservatives.

“They get the A11, they get the A12, they will get a third crossing.”

But that pledge has been w i d e ly c r i t i c i s e d by h i s opponents in Waveney, who say he made an opportunistic promise just a couple of weeks ahead of an

election which the Conservatives say could be decided by just hundreds of votes in the constituency.

“This is a desperate ploy by a desperate politician,” said Labour parliamentary candidate Bob Blizzard. “Making a promise like that less than two weeks before an election is something few people will believe.”

UKIP parliamentary candidate Simon Tobin added: “You can’t just after all these years just suddenly get the Prime Minister to roll up and promise a crossing - it just doesn’t wash with people on the ground.”

However in a follow-up visit to Lowestoft just days after the Prime Minister, transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: “It is a brave minister of any sort who undermines what he says.

“The target is 2020, and I am happy to meet that.”

FULL STORY – page 4

Will you keep your crossing promise, David?

� Third crossing – Page 4-7

� Cameron’s historic visit to The Journal – Page 10

� Coin toss to decide result? – Page 8

� Candidates – Page 68-71

4 Friday, May 1, 2015 The Journal online: www.lowestoftjournal24.co.uk

ELECTIONS 2015

Opportunistic pledge or a clear [email protected] ANDREW PAPWORTH

Prime minister David Cameron has pledged Lowestoft’s long-awaited third crossing would be built by 2020 under a future Conservative government on a visit to the town – but has been accused of making an opportunistic promise a couple of weeks ahead of the election.

In what his political aides described a “game-changing” moment, Mr Cameron said: “It has got to be done in the next parliament. It has gone on long enough.”

He said he believed a consensus had developed behind where a new bridge should be built, after Waveney’s Conservative candidate Peter Aldous changed his view to favour the more popular “central” route over Lake Lothing.

He had backed an “eastern” option, near the existing Bascule bridge, which was widely criticised. Mr Cameron said the money needed for the scheme – thought to be about £80million – was available from a mixture of central and local government funding.

“The electorate know what they’re getting with the Conservatives,” he said. “They get the A11, they get the A12, they will get the third crossing.”

However his political opponents have criticised him for making a promise so close to a general election after not giving any guarantees about whether or not a crossing would be built on his previous visits to the town.

It was a strong change in position

from his last visit to Lowestoft in February when he stopped short of giving any firm commitment, saying it was down to Suffolk County Council to draw up a plan.

B o b B l i z z a rd , L ab o u r ’s parliamentary candidate for Waveney, said: “This is a desperate ploy by a desperate politician. Making a promise like that less than two weeks before an election is something few people will believe.”

However Labour has also been criticised for not being clear about its position on a third crossing.

On a visit to Lowestoft in December, Labour leader Ed Miliband also

stopped short of a firm commitment – but it was later reported that he had said a third crossing would be built once a scheme has been put forward by Suffolk County Council.

Labour has also not pledged a date when the crossing would be built.

“The commitment is that as soon as a bid comes in, it will get built,” Mr

Blizzard said. Mr Aldous said: “One of the things

I hear is people saying we’ve heard it all before and that they don’t believe it will happen.”

A scheme for a third crossing was stopped by the Thatcher government, and Mr Cameron was also shown a map dating back to 1966 – the year he was born – to highlight how long the issue has rumbled on.

“All I can say is that if I’m re-elected, it’s my duty and a Conservative government’s to hold to the commitment made here today to make sure that does happen.”

The Conservative manifesto, published last week, also lists a commitment that a study for a third crossing in Lowestoft will be ready by the 2016 Budget.

� What do you think? Write, giving your full contact details, to: Journal Postbox, 147 London Road North, Lowestoft NR32 1NB or email [email protected]

� Comment – Page 28

A good-natured if spirited debate was held between the parliamentary candidates standing in Waveney in The Journal’s online hustings.Readers logged on at 7pm on Wednesday to read what Peter Aldous (Conservative), Bob Blizzard (Labour), Graham Elliott (Green), Simon Tobin (UKIP) and Doug Farmer, who was standing in for Liberal Democrat candidate Steve Gordon, had to say.Held in The Journal’s office in London Road North, Lowestoft the candidates started by saying why they believed residents should vote for their parties at the general election on May 7. Debate then moved on to job creation in Waveney, how to keep young people safe out of school, what is being done to bring business to the area and, of course, the third crossing. Journal editor Andrew Papworth (seated) is pictured with Peter Aldous, Doug Farmer, Graham Elliott and Simon Tobin. Bob Blizzard logged on remotely.

GOOD-NATURED DEBATE IS HELD

Prime Minister David Cameron encouraged people to get out and visit the Suffolk coast - having revealed that he holidayed himself to Lowestoft 10 years ago.During his visit to Lowestoft last week, Mr Cameron recalled how he had spent time on Lowestoft beach shortly after being elected as Conservative leader in 2005.Mr Cameron said: “I remember buying a tent in Lowestoft for my son so he didn’t get burnt on the beach. I remember it well because it was a hot day.”He described the “blistering heat” and said the town had left a “lasting impression”.However today he says that tourism within the UK is “an industry we can do

much better at” and encouraged people to come and see the Suffolk coast.“I think we undersell ourselves,” he said.“I think we need to get people out of London. Where better to come than the Broads, come to see our coast, come to see our heritage.”He also praised the “fantastic heritage in East Anglia” and said his government had made extra money available for places such as Norwich Castle.“We have returned the Lottery to the good causes, making sure heritage gets good funding,” he said.“The heritage assets we have as a country are such a draw to the rest of the world.”He highlighted the government’s “GREAT” campaign to encourage people to visit different parts of the country, adding that it would be funded all the way through the next Parliament if a Conservative government is in charge. Mr Cameron said: “I am definitely in the market for more things to do to promote tourism. It is one of the fastest job creators in the country, it is an industry we can do so much better at. “There is going to be an enormous increase in middle class tourists from China, India and Brazil. Britain is doing

better now than we were and we can do even better in the future - and I will make sure the whole country benefits from it.“This is a great national strength for us, and you have got a lot of very important attractions along those lines right here.”However opponents have said one of the barriers to people coming to Lowestoft - whether it is to live, work or visit - is its transport links from the rest of the country.Mr Cameron said that the government understood “the infrastructure lesson” and had brought about improvements to the A11, A12 and A47 - and would bring about more which help Lowestoft in the future.

PRIME MINISTER URGES HOLIDAYMAKERS TO VISIT SUFFOLK COAST

VIEW: Prime Minister David Cameron with Conservative candidate Peter Aldous looking over the Bascule bridge in Lowestoft.

VISIT: David Cameron with Peter Aldous.

TOUR: Prime Minister David Cameron visiting Lowestoft.

Pictures: NICK BUTCHER

Friday, May 1, 2015 5The Journal online: www.lowestoftjournal24.co.uk

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SUPPORT: Mr McLoughlin looking at the potential third crossing site.

Minister’s backing for PM’s [email protected] JOE RANDLESOME

Transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin has said the Conservatives will keep their third crossing pledge, saying: “It is a brave minister of any sort who undermines what he says.”

Visiting Lowestoft on Wednesday a few days after Mr Cameron’s visit, Mr McLoughlin said: “The Prime Minister has made the pledge.

“The target is 2020, and I am happy to meet that.”

After visiting the proposed sites at the end of March, he told the voting public to “judge us by our actions”.

This time, more of an emphasis was put on the infrastructure development that has been completed, which prompted the transport secretary to say “judge us by our record”.

Mr McLoughlin met Conservative candidate Peter Aldous at the south bank of Lake Lothing, close to the Asda store in Lowestoft, and responded to criticisms that the promise made by the Prime Minister was hard to see happening in terms of actual development.

“When the Prime Minister makes a pledge, then don’t underestimate the authority that that pledge has,” he said.

“It is very easy for people to attack what we are saying now, but judge us on our record.

“The A11 has been dualled, there are plans to improve the A47 and the Northern Spine Road was opened just three weeks ago.

“Often people say politicians are all talk and no action but in this case, I can point to three very big schemes.”

The transport secretary also described the third crossing as “very realistic”, with “money set aside to

do the study” which will provide an “important piece of infrastructure”

When asked whether he faced any hold-ups on his visit, the transport secretary replied that “the traffic wasn’t too bad today, believe it or not”.

Waveney Conservative candidate Peter Aldous said: “This government has a very good record in the last five years of major road infrastructure projects so judge us by our actions.

“From my perspective, the third crossing is something we have needed for a long time. I am conscious that people here are very cynical but from

my perspective I am getting the right noises from the conservative bodies which leads me to believe we have the opportunity to really drive forward and deliver it”

Suffolk County Council leader Mark Bee added: “This visit has cemented the commitment that we had last week from the Prime Minister.

“To now have the transport secretary here sends a very strong message on how committed we are to seeing this through.”

� What do you think of the Prime Minister’s promise? Email [email protected]


VIEW: Transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin with Conservative

parliamentary Peter Aldous, left, and district council leader Colin Law.

ELECTIONS 2015 The Journal online: www.lowestoftjournal.co.uk


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ELECTIONS 2015

Parties’ views on key

The Conservatives have now pledged they will build a third crossing by 2020 if elected. But what are the other parties proposing? Journal editor ANDREW PAPWORTH spoke to each about one of Lowestoft’s key election issues.

Steve Gordon, the Liberal Democrats’ parliamentary candidate for Waveney, said he has “picked up on the frustration of people in Lowestoft” over the third crossing, adding: “It has dragged on for too long. “Lowestoft needs investment in terms of creating jobs and housing and improving tourism access to it. The third crossing shouldn’t be considered in isolation – you’ve got to look at it within the wider road scheme.”His party believes a scheme slightly to the west of what is proposed would work best.Asked what reassurance he could give that the Liberal Democrats would deliver a third crossing, Mr Gordon said it would be top of his priorities if elected as Waveney’s MP.

LIBERAL DEMOCRATS

CANDIDATE: Steve Gordon.

Friday, May 1, 2015 7The Journal online: www.lowestoftjournal24.co.uk

ELECTIONS 2015

Much of the talk in recent weeks has been about constructing a new bridge in the ‘central’ or ‘eastern’ locations over Lake Lothing.However the UK Independence Party (UKIP) says that the suggestion of an immersed tunnel system “had only got a negative response from the authorities”.However as a former construction engineer, UKIP parliamentary candidate Simon Tobin said he “could immediately see its potential” – and believes consultants WSP should have examined the option in the report they produced on the third crossing for Suffolk County Council late last year.Mr Tobin said: “This option works because it gives you 24/7 movement of traffic and 24/7 movement of shipping.“A bridge is going to be high maintenance and is going to look horrific right across Lowestoft. Let’s consider that this will still need to be opened for large ships.”He believes that the tunnel option should be considered in the £2million funding from this year’s Budget to do further analysis into the best scheme.He added that the town of Conwy in Wales is perhaps the closest example to Lowestoft in that it needed a crossing many years ago – and went with a tunnel system.Yet despite saying the tunnel option is UKIP’s preference, Mr Tobin said: “Naturally the most important thing is to have a central third crossing.”

Mr Tobin has pledged that he will “live and die by getting this crossing” but said few people would believe David Cameron’s promise on the issue.

UK INDEPENDENCE PARTY

Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Waveney, Bob Blizzard, has worked with Peter Colby to come up with a tidal barrage design working on Dutch Polder Dam designs in a ‘central’ location over Lake Lothing.Lock gates at either end of the bridge allow ships to pass through unhindered whilst traffic would continue to flow across the river, the pair say.A cycle lane has also been incorporated into the plans and Mr Colby said the scheme would provide important flood protection to protect the town from a situation like the one in December 2013.However Labour’s opponents accused the party of confusion over its commitment to the third crossing following party leader Ed Miliband’s visit to the town in December.After being interviewed by The Journal he did not give a commitment to the scheme – but was then quoted on Mr Blizzard’s website saying Labour who back any scheme submitted by Suffolk County Council.Mt Blizzard said: “The commitment is that as soon as a bid comes in, it will get built.”However the party has still not offered a date by which it says a crossing will be built, saying it will be dependent on when Suffolk County Council submits a bid.

LABOUR

In recent times the debate has been about where to put a third crossing, rather than if one should be built.However Graham Elliott, the Green Party’s parliamentary candidate for Waveney, said: “The problem is not that we need a third crossing – the problem is that we’ve got an unreliable second crossing and we need a solution to that.“We don’t believe a central road third crossing is desirable or affordable. If you have a central pedestrian and cycle crossing, you will achieve far more.”Mr Elliott believes that by building a cycle and pedestrian bridge instead of one for cars that the town would achieve a modal shift away from vehicles to more environmentally friendly forms of transport.That is because with such a bridge, Mr Elliott said, people would be faced with a 10-minute walk or cycle over the bridge or a 10-minute journey by car around it – and would choose to save money on fuel as a result.“People start making the right decision for their own selfish reasons and you can have a reduction in traffic,” he said. “There is huge potential for switching modes of travel. “Even if there is only a small shift, it will help solve part of the problem. The benefits are just massive. “The third crossing won’t solve all our problems and at a high cost probably won’t be delivered.“We got to think of long-term, sustainable and healthy options that will benefit people.”

GREEN PARTY

third crossing election debate

DIFFERENT SOLUTION: Graham Elliott.

TUNNEL OPTION: Simon Tobin.

CAMPAIGN: Bob Blizzard.


ELECTIONS 2015

Prime Minister in historic visit to The JournalDavid Cameron made a historic visit to the Lowestoft Journal office – the first prime minister ever to have done so.

Mr Cameron arrived in the town last Friday, April 24 by car.

However he was fortunate not to get held up on his way, as a traffic nightmare can often ensue when the Bascule bridge is lifted to let boats pass.

A f t e r m e e t i n g Wave n e y Conservative candidate Peter Aldous to view Lake Lothing from the Bascule bridge control building, Mr Cameron could be seen walking through the town centre on his way to The Journal’s offices in London Road North, which is also home to the Eastern Daily Press’ Lowestoft branch.

He chatted briefly to members of the public outside before being met

by Journal editor Andrew Papworth and given a tour of the newspaper’s premises.

Mr Cameron took a keen interest in The Journal’s front page story about a bid to revive Lowestoft’s historic Claremont Pier, which is being supported with a £10,000 grant from the government’s coastal revival fund.

He also read the paper’s four-page election special with interest, particularly stories about foreign secretary Philip Hammond’s visit to Lowestoft earlier that week and an article about Waveney UKIP candidate Simon Tobin’s business failure.

He also took a brief look at the television schedules for the coming week, saying of the BBC show Masterchef: “It’s too professional now, it’s not real people any more.”

He recounted how he had spent time on Lowestoft beach shortly after being elected as Conservative leader in 2005, and how he bought a tent in the town so his son Ivan did not get burned in the “blistering heat”.

The town had “left a lasting impression”, he said.

During the visit he was shown a map of plans for where a third crossing could be built in 1966, the year he was born.

“We showed it to him to highlight just how long the issue has been dragging on and the years of broken promises residents have put up with over the issue,” Mr Papworth said.

What did you think of Prime Minister David Cameron’s visit? Write, giving your full contact details, to: Journal Postbox, 147 London Road North, Lowestoft NR32 1NB or email [email protected]

VISIT: Prime Minister

David Cameron at the

Lowestoft Journal

office. He is pictured

with Journal editor

Andrew Papworth,

left, and Peter Aldous,

right, Conservative

parliamentary

candidate for

Waveney.

ABOVE: The Journal team showed David Cameron a road map of

Lowestoft from 1966, showing a proposed location for a third crossing.



Documents

Third crossing promise