Hi
Central government funding has not been forthcoming, and Norfolk CC have finally realised they may be pouring money away on something that will never be built. The pause is probably only for 3 months, but it is at least an acknowledgement that funding is not guaranteed.
This is a huge sunken cost. However, if central government funding were granted Norfolk would be picking up any cost overruns. As there has been no revised estimate of the cost for 2 years this could be a lot of money. £50-100 million further spend by Norfolk alone is likely.
The Climate Change Committee, a statutory government advisory body, says that only roads that advance the net zero cause, that get people out of cars, rather than make life better or easier for motorists, should be allowed.
Of course, the government can ignore their recommendations, and have done so in the past. But this, along with
Dr. Andrew Boswell's legal case is putting some pressure on the DfT to
change tack, and move away from road building.
Norfolk CC and the A47 Alliance
Norfolk CC and pro NWL Norfolk MPs will be asking for A47 dualling via the A47 Alliance, a lobby group pushing for what will effectively be a motorway through Norfolk and beyond.
The Government is currently consulting on its Road Investment Strategy for 2025-2030 (known as RIS3). Norfolk are now pushing the Government to fund more A47 projects before 2030 under RIS3. This could bring up to 80000 more houses in Norfolk along the A47 corridor. Worse, even if we stop the NWL now, the massive increase in traffic would mean that the NWL scheme would keep coming back to haunt us.
Currently, the Govt don't want to fund any more A47 schemes before 2030 in its RIS3 plan.
We have to keep it that way, and not let NCC's lobbying succeed. Please do the consultation below if
you can.
Click here for easy e action on RIS3
consultation
Add to the e action proforma that you do not want an A47 motorway crossing Norfolk, you do not want any further A47 schemes and the current 3 schemes under legal action should be scrapped.
Andrew Boswell's legal cases on the A47
Andrew is still awaiting the judgement. The cases have come at the right time, and given the bleak report from the CCC, we hope that these
schemes have to go back to the drawing board, or better still are scrapped. Please continue to donate to the crowdfunder if you possibly can.
Thanks for all you do to help the campaign - as a team we can make a difference.
The Stop the Wensum Link team
P.S. Do please share this email with anyone who might be interested and encourage them to sign up for email updates
here
Events
An evening of Words, Music and Cake, The Quaker Meeting House, Norwich 22nd July 7.30pm (this is an event run by the Quakers - please direct any questions to them) SWL Actions Meeting 25nd July 7-8pm Come and help us with organising fundraising events and bring your ideas for outreach to the public. Friendly group, please do just come along and test the waters if you are thinking about helping. |
