For many years the EDP has fought long and hard on campaigns that make a positive impact on the community.

Eastern Daily Press: Making a Difference Local Newspaper Week logoMaking a Difference Local Newspaper Week logo (Image: Archant)

One campaign in particular required a lot of patience, but in December 2014 the region celebrated the long-awaited completion of the dualling of the A11.

The EDP's A11 Road to Success appeal has been rewarded with a nomination for a national award as part of Local Newspaper Week.

The EDP has campaigned for 40 years to get the A11 completely dualled and we helped lead the fight by challenging the government and holding meetings to discuss the importance of improving the road.

Final approval was given in 2010 and construction of the final 9.1 mile stretch of road was completed after four years of work.

And today, the new and improved A11 has contributed to cutting travelling times, improving transport links to London and the Midlands, as well as making Norfolk and Suffolk more attractive for businesses.

Norfolk County Council leader George Nobbs said: 'The EDP campaign was extremely important.

'It lasted over many years and, in the end, contributed massively to get us to where we are today.

'It was rightly fought for as in the past, on a busy Friday afternoon, you could be in a queue for hours and now it can take 15 minutes.'

He said there was also a positive psychological effect of being linked to the rest of the UK by dual carriageway.

'It is a huge step and, hopefully in the future, we can discuss at how both the Acle Straight and the A47 have been improved.'