Opposition to prevent the tolling of the A14 is being weakened by a lack of co-operation and promotion a leading campaigner has said.

Cambs Times: Richard TaylorRichard Taylor (Image: Archant)

Richard Taylor, who set up the ‘no toll for cars on the A14’ petition on the Government’s e-petitions website said the debate against the tolls is being diluted by the number of debates and petitions being set up often only with minor differences in their proposals.

Mr Taylor said that whilst he was not against the planned improvements, he believed a proper debate should take place discussing whether the road should be tolled or not.

The proposed improvements would see a new stretch of A14 between Ellington and Swavesey, the widening of the A1 between Brampton and Alconbury and the demolition of the Huntingdon flyover.

Mr Taylor said he set up the debate which currently has 165 signatures as he “thought it was the right thing to do.”

Mr Taylor added that he was “saddened” that even in the face of widespread opposition to the tolls the Prime Minister had made it clear that the tolled section would be included in any proposal.

The matter could be brought up in the House of Commons if an e-petition was to gain 100,000 signatures.

Currently the three A14 toll petitions have 705 signatures between them.

Other petitions have been set up separately including one petitioning against financial support for the proposal from East Cambridgeshire District Council (ECDC)

ECDC has agreed, in principle, to provide £1m of funding towards the proposal, paid in £40,000 instalments from 2020.

Ely Cycling Campaign has also been vocal in its opposition to East Cambridgeshire taxpayers funding the road, which doesn’t pass through the disitrict.

Cllr Virginia Bucknor, of Fenland District Council, which is also discussing committing money to the project, posted: “many of us feel the same, being asked to pay for a road more than 40 miles away.”

Members of the public have been invited to an online consultation where they can read the official A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon improvement proposal and the accompanying technical review.

Members of the public can then respond to the proposal online or by letter. The consultation closes on Sunday, October 13.

INFO: visit www.gov.uk/government/consultations/a14-cambridge-to-huntingdon-improvement-scheme