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When I first came to Norfolk in the mid 90s, the TEC asked me to work with them as I was already qualified in several supporting areas. I was asked how I was going to deal with the Norfolk culture. "I laughed and said, "Which one of seven?" Today, I'd say, "Which one of twenty seven?"

There is a laid back culture which epitomises the best of English history. There is also the questionning of all that is new is not better. That is healthy.

However, as a Norfolk resident, and especially North Norfolk, I resent some of the views about its backwater nature and its future.

For example, why is it, that on the strategic plans, this county is expected to grow at half the rate of Cambridgeshire? Why have the arguments over infrastructure been going on for over one hundred years and still not been resolved? Delays only add to expense.

In 1963, the Hudson Committee recommended that the best investment the government could make for the UK was a grid networked and coastal motorway system. Look at a map of the country and ask, (as 'Yes Minister' did), why the motorways go where they do?

Before anyone raises environmental issue, may I ask, how much more polluting is traffic congestion on the A47, A11, A12, A140 and A10? To open up our economy, we want the M11 to go north, via King's Lynn to the Humber Bridge and A19, not congest the A1 further. The M42 and M69 should converge, replacing much of the A47, A17 and A52, to travel from the Midlands, via King's Lynn and the Northern Norwich by pass to Caister and Great Yarmouth. (Forget the Acle Straight.) Similarly the A12 should be the M12 from London to Yarmouth, tunnelling under Lake Lothing. The final piece of the road jigsaw is the dualling of the last piece of the A11. The combination probably reduces traffic on the A140 and definitely relieves the A10. If not, dual the A140.

The rail links need to be brought into the 21st Century. Many years ago, I worked on the framing of the Amsterdam solution. Because of water levels, it had to be a one off and last until 2050. A key to Norfolk is inter-locking loops, replenishing track and bridges lost in the devastation called Beeching. A four leaf clover pattern would access the county and the Waveney area of Suffolk.

Why Great Yarmouth Borough Council destroyed a rail bridge, buried the rails to the port and prevented dualled road to the out harbour, beats me. The EDP has in its archives the proposed third crossing of the Yare from 1923. Harfreys roundabout to Monument Square seems apprpriate.

Put these plans into practice and we have a distribution network, links to the continent, (Great Yarmouth to Ijmuiden is the shortest North Sea crossing), inward tourism from much of Northern Europe to visit our beautiful county, greater scope for employment for younger people and a vision of future prosperity.

The Japanese revolution and 'Just-in-Time' techniques were supposed to have been dreamed up by two American statisticians in the 1930s and implemented post-war. Not a bit of it; they are Norfolk and Yorkshire from the 18th & 19th centuries. When, in 1794, Britain, as ever, was unprepared for war, how did we get the fleet ready for Jellicoe and Nelson at the battle of Copenhagen? Rigging blocks for the sailing ships were manufactured using 'Just-in-Time' techniques.

Ladies and Gentlemen of Norfolk, this is the way forward for this county and its economic and social development. Let's have a vision. You don't have to agree with my detail. But don't be negative and say what we cannot do.