Motorists in Hertfordshire could see nearly an hour a week cut from their journeys along a key route, thanks to a £40 million investment.

Roads Minister Jesse Norman today (23 May 2019) confirmed the Department for Transport will provide £27.4 million, almost three quarters of the total funding, for a Little Hadham Bypass along the A120 between Bishop’s Stortford and the A10.

As well as improving traffic flows in the area, the improvements will reduce congestion and improve air quality in the centre of Little Hadham, improving the overall wellbeing of residents in the village.

The improvements to Hertfordshire’s road infrastructure will also bring specific benefits to Stansted Airport, improving the transport links to the airport, boosting the local economy.

Jesse Norman, Roads Minister, said:

Investment in local roads cuts travel time, boosts business, and can improve air quality by cutting congestion.

This new bypass will significantly benefit both road users and residents in and around Little Hadham as well as across Hertfordshire.

Mark Kemp, Director of Environment and Infrastructure at Hertfordshire County Council, said:

It’s fantastic news for Hertfordshire that the Department for Transport is to provide this funding for construction of the A120 Little Hadham Bypass.

The A120 is a vital transport link in the county, so this is a hugely positive step as it’s important that investment is made to improve it.

The bypass, and flood alleviation scheme, will help to support the growth we’re expecting in Hertfordshire over the next decade or so while improving quality of life in the Little Hadham area.

Adam Wood, Head of Infrastructure and Regeneration, Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership said:

The A120 is a vital east-west link in Hertfordshire’s already congested road network. This bypass will improve the quality of life for residents in the village and significantly reduce journey times along the route.

It is vital when we are faced with such unprecedented growth that we put in the right infrastructure now to support our places, people and businesses.

The plans will see a 4km single carriageway bypass to the north of Little Hadham, and will decrease journey times along the A120, saving regular users and commuters nearly an hour a week.

The scheme will also reduce the risk of flooding in Little Hadham and nearby communities to the south, through work with the Environment Agency to deliver flood reduction measures.

Works will start in June 2019 and the scheme is scheduled to open in Autumn 2020.

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The United Kingdom continues to demonstrate its commitment to ‘doing better business’ on the African continent with the inaugural edition of the UK- West Africa Agritech Summit organised by the UK Department for International Trade in Lagos, Nigeria on Tuesday, 21st of May.

With a mission to encourage Britain and West Africa’s rapidly growing trade and investment outlook by nurturing a strong network of prospective partners in finance, technology, innovation and knowledge, the summit and others to follow, is intended to be a platform for thoughtful discussion and deliberation over some of the most critical issues impacting the sector on a national, regional and international level.

The summit’s agenda covered a range of diverse topics including promoting socio-economic development through agricultural transformation, livestock transformation and financing agribusiness in West Africa.

Speaking at the event the British Deputy High Commissioner, Laure Beaufils said:

Agriculture is Africa’s engine of growth and job production. The sector accounts for an average of 20% of GDP of countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. The UK is playing our part through investment in rural farmers, Agritech, increasing wealth creation and strengthening value propositions of local entrepreneurs. We recognise that the sector requires funding and our UK Export Finance agency (UKEF) is committed to supporting these initiatives with vital capital support in the sector through its credit grantee scheme.

The event was attended by investors, business leaders, SME owners and senior executives from across West Africa including Namory Camara, MD Private Investment Promotion Agency, Guinea; Kwame Sisto Asaase, West African Rep., Agric Council Africa; Emmanuel Ijewere, VP Nigeria Agribusiness Group (NABG) and Chairman Bestfood farms.

The summit was also attended by representatives from the office of the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, office of the Minister on Agriculture, Amolexis, CDC UK, AB5 Consulting, as well as other.

The summit is intended to be hosted every year in a different West African country.

For further information contact:

Gbemi Sikuade| Engagement & Communications Officer, West Africa | Department for International Trade | gbemisola.sikuade@fco.gov.uk

The UK hosted the inaugural edition of the UK-West Africa Agritech Summit organised by the UK Department for International Trade in Lagos, Nigeria on Tuesday, 21st of May.