Daniel Zeichner, MP for Cambridge says that Cambridge residents are suffering too much from lorry diversions during the A14 upgrade. He has written to Highways boss Jim O’Sullivan, Chief Executive of Highways England, urging swift action on the diversion policy that is in place for the ongoing work being carried out on the A14. This has been prompted by complaints from constituents that the increasing number of Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) down King’s Hedges Road is having health implications and damaging local roads.

Mr Zeichner details one case in particular where a constituent suffered an asthma attack in his home due to the increase of fumes from the HGVs, despite the windows and doors being closed. Further to this, residents have been in contact about the damage to roads and disturbances late at night from lorries driving through the city.

It is understood from constituents that Highways England has not marked King’s Hedges Road as a diversion route. This has prompted Mr Zeichner to ask what Highways England are doing to make sure the correct diversion information reachesdrivers as well as querying how long these diversions will be in place.

Mr Zeichner says: “I am extremely concerned by the rising numbers of people that are contacting me about the impact that the A14 roadworks are having on residents of Cambridge. When there are infrastructure developments we know there will be some impact on local communities, but it should be minimised and should not affect peoples health, quality of life or be doing the damage to Cambridge city roads that we are suffering.”

“Mr O’Sullivan needs to clarify where the diversion routes are, and how long they are to be in place. It isn’t just King’s Hedges that is suffering -; residents on Huntingdon Road are also raising concerns. People in Cambridge are very understanding, but Highways England needs to protect us all from unnecessary harm.”