Its new draft transport strategy sets out six core road and rail corridors for the movement of people and goods, into which investment will be directed.

Three of the corridors travel from east to west: from Great Yarmouth to Norwich, King’s Lynn and the Midlands; from Norfolk and Suffolk towards Cambridge; and from Harwich and Clacton on the coast towards Colchester, Braintree and Stansted.

Two north/south corridors identified are from King’s Lynn to Cambridge, Harlow and London; and from Norwich and the Suffolk Coast down towards Ipswich, Colchester, Chelmsford and London.

A sixth corridor links Southend, Basildon and south Essex with Thurrock and London.

A key pillar of the strategy is to cut carbon in the region and to work towards achieving net zero emissions from transport.

Transport East chair Kevin Bentley said: “Tackling emissions has to be at the forefront of our minds and that is why we have put decarbonisation right at the heart of our proposed transport strategy.”

Other aims include enhancing transport links between and within the region’s fastest growing towns and cities and improving connections to and from ports and airports.

Councillor Bentley added: “Improvements to our transport networks are going to be vital in levelling up the region and allowing us to fulfil our huge potential.”

Transport East’s Parliamentary Ambassador Dr Dan Poulter MP added: “If the East is to secure the long term transport investment it needs to grow sustainably, we need to come together and make the best case to Government.”

He also said the strategy sets out a positive vision for the region’s transport networks and will help to strengthen its position when seeking further funding.

To read the consultation, visit transporteast.org.uk/public-consultation

(Photograph: National Highways)