Open Letter from Ipswich Major Employers

We would like to share our views with you on the current traffic situation in Ipswich. We accept that we aren’t alone in expressing frustration at the delays in town but hope that you will take our views into account. 

 

We represent nine of the largest employers in Ipswich. Collectively we provide employment for over 3,000 people in Ipswich and our businesses generate over a hundred million pounds in GDP. 

 

Like so many others, our experiences over the past few days have had a significant impact on our bottom line and our employees’ wellbeing. We feel now is the right time to collectively call for action in addressing the single point of failure that is the Orwell Bridge. 

 

We fully accept that maintenance of the bridge is required and acknowledge that the contractors and Highways England have done all they can to minimise the impact on the town.  

 

However, despite this, once again, our businesses have experienced unprecedented delays. We have all seen employees stuck in traffic for up to two and a half hours on their journeys to work. These are journeys that would normally take, for example, 20 minutes. 

Quite apart from the loss of productivity caused by their lateness, being stuck in traffic in hot weather isn’t good for people’s wellbeing or work-life balance and we are genuinely concerned that, in the long term, Ipswich will lose out to other regions when it comes to recruiting and retaining the very best employees who are vital to our success. 

 

We note the evidence provide in Suffolk Chamber of Commerce’s recent report – Broken Down – which provides evidence that both the negative impact on current business activity of A14 delays and future business investment and employment growth plans in the area. 

 

We know the solutions are expensive and create their own set of issues locally, but we feel the current stalemate is not acceptable. Something must be done if Ipswich and the port of Felixstowe are to continue to provide the significant positive impact we currently have on the national economy.  

 

So, we are calling for:
  

1. Reopening of discussions on a northern bypass.  

OR if this is not acceptable  

2. A clear and practical alternative solution that would remove the single point of failure created by the current Orwell Bridge and A14 challenges.  
 

Given the significance of our region, the huge expansion in commerce, construction, industry, and house building we are seeing around greater Ipswich now and in local development plans going forwards, it is simply not acceptable to have this single point of failure. 

 

Yours faithfully,

 

Jonathan Agar DL, Chief Executive Officer, Birketts  

Richard Brame, Chair of WTW Ipswich Management Group / Head of CRB GB Bill to Cash, Willis Tower Watson  

Professor Jenny Higham, Vice Chancellor, University of Suffolk  

Alan Pease, Principle and Chief Executive Officer, Suffolk New College  

Daniel Dickson, Chief Executive Officer UK & Ireland, OCS 

Mark Hart, Joint Divisional Managing Director, Barnes Construction  

Paul Ager, Divisional Port Manager, Associated British Ports  

Guy Nichols, CEO & Owner, Tru 7 Group