BUSINESS owners in Suffolk are being encouraged to have their say on the future of the county’s major trunk route, the A14.

The Government recently set out its intention to address problems with the heavily congested road, and suggested improvements could be funded by adding toll lanes on busy stretches.

It has initiated the A14 Challenge involving all key partners in Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire to help find a solution.

As part of the challenge, Suffolk Chamber of Commerce and the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership have come up with a survey for local business owners to complete.

It asks if they support the idea of toll lanes alongside the most heavily congested and problematic stretch of the A14 in Cambridgeshire.

The survey also questions whether people would use a toll lane during periods of heavy traffic, and if they would be willing to pay �5 for the service. Finally, the survey asks if a toll lane would have a positive impact on Suffolk’s economy.

Chief executive of Suffolk Chamber of Commerce John Dugmore said: “The A14 plays a fundamental part in the daily operation of the Suffolk economy.

“For far too long, the need to address what are regular incidents of congestion has been ignored. While we welcome the Government’s announcement that something needs to be done, it needs to be the right solution for businesses and the economy as a whole.”

The A14 Challenge – Finding Solutions Together, is asking for interested parties to send in their views and suggestions for improvements by the end of January 2012, including the issue of tolling as an option. Answers to the Suffolk survey will help shape a formal response to the A14 Challenge, to be submitted in the New Year.

Mr Dugmore concluded: “Many of our members, whether they are major logistic operators in Felixstowe or taxi firms in Bury St Edmunds, tell us on a regular basis how congestion on the A14 has a major negative effect on their business. That is why we are encouraging people to complete our short but important survey to share their views on what needs to be done and whether tolling would be an option for them.”

The survey can be accessed at the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce website at www.suffolkchamber.co.uk