Hello

On 29th July Stop the Wensum Link met with Norfolk County Council to discuss a 'Plan B'. It's taken a while to agree what we could talk about publicly - but here is the info at last!

In short: We pressed for sustainable transport, accurate data, and thorough environmental assessment. The council recognised the need for new data, wider expertise, and updated ecological considerations - but made no firm commitments to shift away from the road-first approach.

Disappointing, but not surprising. 

We will be keeping the pressure up to get on with creating a comprehensive package of alternatives that will actually reduce traffic volume, make life in the Wensum villages pleasant, and render a massive new road completely unnecessary.

We'll keep you posted!

A bit more detail on discussions:

Public transport first

Our point: More and better public transport options are available than previously assessed, especially direct services to major employment areas like the hospital and research park. People don’t want to change buses via the city centre.

Council response: Agreed to look at options but said some routes had been tried before without success. They also said a member of the public transport team could be included in the options assessment work.

Active travel matters

Our point: Walking, cycling, and e-bikes are growing rapidly, but existing big roads like the NDR are barriers. Any new scheme must avoid creating further obstacles. Bike and bus travel should be integrated.

Council response: No direct commitments, but noted the rise in e-bike use and said new data would need to meet Department for Transport modelling requirements.

Better data needed

Our point: The latest traffic counts are from 2019 and out of date. New surveys, including mobile phone data, are needed to understand travel patterns and test bus route viability.

Council response: Said updated data would be required to satisfy Department for Transport guidance and agreed to look into whether mobile phone data could be used.

Environmental protection

Our point: Surveys by objectors have found many more habitats of importance than the council’s consultants recorded. The whole Special Area of Conservation, buffer zones, tributaries, and underground waterways need full assessment.

Council response: Accepted further reports should be shared with their team and said they would review them. Acknowledged that the new Local Nature Recovery Strategy and ecosystem services will have to be factored into future plans.

Joined-up thinking

Our point: Options assessment should include public transport specialists, not just highways engineers.

Council response: Agreed that input from the public transport team would be useful.

The Stop the Wensum Link team