Business and education leaders have praised the impact on the regional economy of the A57 road to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Britain’s road numbering system.
This year marks 100 years since the first A-roads were numbered in the UK and they have played a major role in helping economic growth across the country.
The A57 spans from Manchester in the northwest, through the Peak District and to Sheffield, and into Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire. It also includes the famous Snake Pass in the Peak District.
National Highways Customer Services Director Andrew Butterfield said: “This year marks the 100th anniversary of the roads numbering system and it continues to play an enormous role in helping people navigate their journeys.”
East Midlands Chamber of Commerce has more than 4,000 members across Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire, making it one of the largest chambers of commerce in the UK.
East Midlands Chamber chief executive Scott Knowles said: “Major road infrastructure is an essential part of economic growth as providing easy, fast and reliable connections across various parts of the country encourages trade between those cities, towns and villages.
“Businesses are often encouraged to locate themselves where they can benefit from high-quality connectivity, which enhances operational efficiency and productivity.
“Key road networks are also a magnet for housing developments that feed customers and workers into these firms.
“The A57 in particular is an important east-west connection that brings parts of the East Midlands closer to the North West, enabling our businesses and communities to tap into the economic opportunities that are created in another part of the country.
“This, in turn, ultimately drives investment, jobs and wealth creation in our region.
“Looking to the future, there is plenty we can learn from how established A-roads have operated and grown when developing new road infrastructure, while also embracing new and emerging technologies with a view to enhancing decarbonisation within these projects.”
Worksop College (pictured) is an independent day and boarding school, with a cohort of around 450 pupils, many of whom travel along the A57 each day. With a transport network covering five counties, and families commuting to bring their children into Worksop, the college’s community relies heavily on the A57.
Seven out of the eleven bus routes use the A57 every day. Some only briefly, such as the Mansfield bus that just goes to the first junction at St Annes and then turns towards Mansfield on the A60. Others use it in the opposite direction to get to the A1 at five lane ends, and the Rotherham and Eckington bus use it all the way to the M1 at Aston.
Many parents at Worksop College are business owners, CEOs, entrepreneurs – lots of them travelling along the A57 into the Bassetlaw area daily. In doing so, families are exposed to Worksop’s local businesses – from cafes to supermarkets, hairdressers to restaurants. Moreover, the school is a hive of sporting activity, with fixtures often taking place onsite, where schools from across the region will travel along the A57 to visit – another great impact on the local economy.
Dr John Price, Headmaster of Worksop College said: “We are grateful that the school is accessible to so many different areas – from Sheffield to Mansfield, our transport links and the surrounding road networks have opened so many doors of opportunity.”
National Highways recently teamed up with the National Trust to celebrate the ‘staycation’ which co-incides with a year-long celebration of the road numbering system.
Those heading off on their travels have been asked to share images or videos of themselves enjoying a summer holiday using the hashtag #Aroadtosummer on social channels to be in with a chance of winning prizes from the National Trust. The competition ends on September 10.
