The reasons for this have not been made clear, but the incomplete ecological surveys are certainly a factor.
All delays add to the overall cost: an estimated £250,000 for each month's delay.
The scheme has already been delayed 18 months, adding millions to the original £153 million estimate. This must start to erode the already
highly dubious growth argument even for those focused purely on the finances, and with no concern for for ecological damage or
climate change.
We would encourage you to use your vote accordingly and make sure your county councillor knows the NWL is influencing your vote!
More immediately.....
The Greater Norwich Local Plan (GNLP) consultation: respond by 15th March
Planning authorities have to produce a plan for growth. The Greater Norwich Area is consulting on a plan for housing, transport etc from now until 2038.
The NWL road is currently part of this plan, so make sure you have your say!
Unfortunately dealing with the GNLP consultation is like wading through treacle. The main take away point for us though is that building the NWL will increase carbon emissions, so flatly contradicts the environmental aims set out in the document.
As a simple action you can just email gnlp@norfolk.gov.uk and point out that:
The Norwich Western Link Road. The inclusion of this proposed road is incompatible with the climate change statement and its inclusion in the GNLP is therefore unsound.
If you want more detail please see below.
The River Wensum: A Rare and Precious Chalk Stream
Over 100 people attended this latest webinar. Many thanks to Jonah Tosney of The Norfolk Rivers Trust for his fascinating presentation.
If you missed it you can view it
here.
Thanks to everyone who shared it widely. In fact, well over 25,000 people have seen Stop the Wensum Link posts on social media this month. At a time when public events are impossible we are still getting the message out, with your help.
Look out for our next webinar on local artist
Alfred Munnings, coming soon!
What can I do?
We desperately need a treasurer!
Less than an hours work a month. Current active members just can't take this on too, we are so busy. Can you help? Or do you know someone who can? No experience? No problem! We will help get you established in the role. This role is absolutely essential for us to progress the campaign. Please email us stopthewensumlink@protonmail.com
Know others who would be interested in these campaign updates?
You can send them this link to sign up here. Make sure they check their spam for the confirmation message.
Volunteers for habitat and river surveys
It will soon be possible (we hope...) to get out surveying again! If you have been surveying before then you should hear from Liz soon. If you would like to help with habitat surveys in the Wensum area, or with monitoring in the river Wensum itself eg looking at river flies please email us. This is
essential work because we know that NCC's surveys are missing things: remember those bats they hadn't noticed!
Crowdfunder
We are planning a crowdfunder! This will involve a few weeks work, so if you have time to spare, but only temporarily, this might be the role for you. If you can write an email you can help! contact stopthewensumlink@protonmail.com if you interested
Email gnlp@norfolk.gov.uk before 15th March - see above for simple message.
If you want to use your own words then that's great, it will be more powerful. The consultation is about soundness, a planning legal term: it is important to use the term UNSOUND! Points to consider bringing up:
1. NWL should not be in plan a) not compatible with planned carbon reduction objectives b) insurmountable planning issues to overcome with Wensum SAC and Habitats Regulations
2. The plan is UNSOUND in the way that it has no coherent policy on climate change, and has no carbon budget for the area
3.The plan is UNSOUND in massively ramping up housing numbers, beyond what the Govt are requiring, and beyond what is environmental sustainable
4. It is UNSOUND as the plan is not balanced "sustainable development" and not consistent with UN Sustainable Development goals to protect the environmental whilst bringing social and economic gains
You can look at the plans and respond here
There is also the response to the plans by the Campaign to Protect Rural England here.
Contacting local and national politicians before the May elections
If you want some pointers on this keep an eye on the stopthewensumlink website details will be added in the 'what can you do' section soon.
