Hi
What's the alternative?
This is something we are often asked. And the trouble is, adding a great big road seems like a simple fix. But we know it will just create more problems. There are alternative ways to sort out local traffic issues, and it will likely be a multi-pronged approach that isn't so neat and simple to present to the public. More complex perhaps, but cheaper, and not one that will just shift rat running problems around to other unfortunate villages, such
as those in the zone marked in red above, as the NWL will.
Ok, so we know the motivation of the NWL isn't really to help the suffering of the villages in the Wensum. But that is how it is being sold. And maybe some councillors are genuinely motivated to support it for that reason. We want to shake that up and show them other ways are possible.
Join us on 2nd August for our first What's the Alternative? meeting (event details below)
Campaign Update
SWL members are working every spare hour working on planning issues and challenging Norfolk CC when they are not being open and transparent.
SWL will be submitting a letter to the Dept of Transport, saying why they should not be giving funding to the NWL.
We are also looking into the legal implications of the presence of the endangered barbastelle bats in the Valley, and the fact that the cumulative impact of the A47 improvements and the NWL together on the environment have not be considered by NCC.
There is more to challenge in the NCC ecological survey data too. A recent freedom of information request revealed that they haven't recorded a badger sett that they were actually told about! Makes it hard to trust their work.... they failed to find a massive bat super colony and a huge badger sett - what else have they missed?
Crowdfunder Update
Thankyou so much to everyone who has contributed and shared our crowdfunder! We had a substantial donation outside of the crowdfunder so were able to hit our £10,000 target. This is great as we will be able to bring in expert help. The crowdfunder is still running, and we will easily need more funds, so please continue to promote it where you can.
Rights of the river event
We are starting to plan what we hope will be a spectacular event that will draw in lots of different groups.
Actually there are many laws protecting rivers, but because of underfunding of the regulators they are rarely enforced.
It is a problem we have with the NWL because we cannot rely on Natural England to robustly investigate how the river will be protected from pollution run-off, and enforce protections for the River Wensum Special Area of Conservation.
Other issues such as pollution from agriculture and extraction are also a problem for chalk streams.
Giving a river legal rights might sound a little 'tree-huggy', but this is about rebalancing things so that the natural environment is considered as well as economic growth.
We want to organise an eyecatching 'reading of the rights' ceremony for publicity. This was done recently for
the River Cam, but we think we can do better ;-)
This will mean we need to network with other groups with an interest in the River Wensum to take care of it and protect it from pollution, extraction etc. Wild swimmers, canoeists, local business owners, anglers, farmers we would love them all to be on board: if this is you, or someone you know please get in touch!
We are organising mainly in a
special facebook group (just for people that want to get involved with organising please). If you aren't on facebook please reply to this email, we will keep you updated and make sure you know about any meetings.
If you just want general updates or hear about small ways you can help you can join the
SWL facebook group, or watch out for updates in these emails.
Currently planned for late October/November or early Spring.
Events
What's the Alternative?
meeting Monday 2nd August 7.30pm
There are terrible traffic problems in the Wensum Valley. Something needs to be done about it.
But the Norwich Western Link would be massively expensive, destroy a beautiful ecologically rich area and put an endangered bat species at risk... so what do we do?
We don't have all the answers, but we think we know where to start, and with your help we can start to put together some other strategies: other roads that can be upgraded, public transport, timed camera controlled zones.... there are many options. They avoided building the M4 in Wales partly because they came up with a better plan - that was cheaper and less destructive to the environment.
Come and help us start to make a better plan!
This will include some info about where we are, what alternatives look like they may be a goer, and what we need to do to get together a proper plan that we can present to Norfolk County council to get them to pause and think again.
All welcome, discussion will be encouraged.
Actions meeting 7th September 5.30pm
Come and join our friendly team working on getting the word out on the Norwich Western Link Road. All ideas on online/ inperson events welcome. Any little time contribution is helpful, we have so much to do!
