Diss may lose Midwich - its biggest employer - if traffic congestion impacting staff is not solved
Midwich has threatened to move - possibly out of Diss - if traffic congestion impacting staff is not addressed. Picture:Lucy Begbie - Credit: Archant
A market town could lose its largest employer if a plan is not put in place to deal with traffic congestion staff face on a daily basis, it has been warned.
A market town could lose its largest employer if a plan is not put in place to deal with traffic congestion staff face on a daily basis, it has been warned.
Employees at Midwich, in Vince's Road, Diss, can wait in traffic for up to 40mins when arriving or leaving work using Vince's Road and Victoria Road.
Deliveries to and from the company are also made more difficult with the constant build up of traffic along the affected roads.
The firm has threatened to move sites, possibly out of the town, if the problem isn't addressed as soon as possible.
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A spokesman for Midwich said: 'We are losing good people, especially those with childcare commitments, who can take 40mins in traffic to get to pick up their child.
'We are working with South Norfolk Council, Norfolk County Council and Diss Town Council and have hosted a meeting with them and other companies impacted, including big employer CVS (UK) Ltd.
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'We have threatened to move the company - possibly out of Diss - if the problem is not addressed as soon as possible.'
The company, which has 280 employees, is staggering leaving times to help staff.
Deborah Sarson, Diss town clerk, said the town could lose Midwich if the upcoming Diss and District Neighbourhood Plan does not address the traffic problem.
She said: 'We are at risk of losing our biggest employer, Midwich, if we don't sort the traffic problems.
'The short-term solution is an additional left hand lane but a strategic approach would be to look at the infrastructure for the long-term viability of the area.
'The neighbourhood plan is the most important strategic work to be carried out for Diss and the surrounding parishes in decades.
'If we are going to have a long-term solution to traffic problems and other infrastructure issues we need investment - a large proportion of which would have to come from development.'
What do you think? Write, giving your full contact details, to lucy.begbie@archant.co.uk