Hi
So, the planned launch date for our crowdfunder has been a bit delayed.
Sorry about that.
But the reason is that we have managed to get someone very special to launch it!
We are not telling just yet, but the official launch will be at 9am on Sunday 2nd May. Look out for our email on Sunday morning, so you can watch live!
This will give our campaign a big boost and get the crowdfunder off to a flying start.
Meanwhile the crowdfunder is now live and open for donations from us in the know.
We have had a bit of a rethink, and made some minor changes. The crowdfunder page has been updated to widen the scope of what we are raising funds for to include experts consultants who can help us challenge Norfolk County Council. Our initial target has also changed, but we very much hope we will exceed this, as we still need a substantial fund. We hope to get there with your help!
Please can everyone encourage their friends, family and contacts to donate what they can, and share the crowdfunder! We know not everyone is in a position to contribute, especially at the moment, but they can still help by spreading the message. Please share our social media posts after the official launch.
For people not on social media please see the bottom of page for a suggested email template you can use. Thankyou!
We are so excited we have been lucky enough to get this person to help! See you on Sunday!
And before you go: a reminder that local elections are on May 6th.
Make sure you know your candidates' stance on the road, and make sure THEY know your voting decision is influenced by the NWL.
Help on contacting candidates and information on who is for and against the NWL (where we know) here
The Stop the Wensum Link team
Suggested email to share:
Dear.....
Can you help Stop the Wensum Link?
They are an organisation campaigning against the Norwich Western Link Road, a three- mile dual carriageway that Norfolk County Council plan to build right across the Wensum Valley.
The cost is projected to be £153 million. However, taking the cost overruns on the recently built NDR as a guide, we estimate the cost will be something closer to £280 million. The Council would have to pick up the tab for any spending over budget. It is already in financial difficulties, so this would put essential services at risk.
Building this road would also devastate this beautiful and ecologically special area on the outskirts of Norwich.
Stop the Wensum Link have launched a crowdfunder to raise funds for legal advice, consultancy and to raise awareness. They have just 8 weeks to raise their initial target of £10,000.
Can you help?
Any donation you can afford will be very gratefully received.
They also need to spread the word about the campaign as far as possible!
You can do help them with this by forwarding this email, and by sharing posts on social media.
This is the link to the site:
https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/stop-the-wensum-link
.
Norfolk County Council will try and plough on with this project despite the area having strong legal protection because of its ecological value eg the presence of a super colony of endangered bats. The road would cut right through the centre of the bats' habitat, and there is no way to build the road that would avoid colonies dying out. Unfortunately we cannot rely on Natural England upholding wildlife law, we have to be prepared to fight this in the courts.
The traffic problems in the area are miserable for the residents, and things should not be left as they are. But there are lots of less carbon intensive, lower cost, and much less ecologically damaging options. Norfolk County Council needs to pause and rethink this project, and explore these better long term solutions.
There are more details about the insurmountable problems with the Norwich Western Link at https://www.stopthewensumlink.co.uk/
Thankyou so much for helping preserve the Wensum Valley and its wildlife for future generations!
Facebook @StopWensumLink
Instagram @stopthewensumlink
Twitter @StopWensumLink
Events
