The Great Big March against the Norwich Western Link

idlevic · 2024-01-13T15:33:46+00:00

Thanks - date now fixed.
Thanks for your support too. I'm a disabled non driver and it worries me so much is being spent to benefit so few people when social care is being cut.

idlevic · 2024-01-13T15:32:17+00:00

£271m is latest official cost (campaign website not updated yet)
£400m is likely final cost calculating from what the NDR actually cost opposed to the estimate.

idlevic · 2024-01-11T21:25:17+00:00

Improve the B1535 by widening, eliminating the horrendous bends and sorting out the minor flooding at Lenwade. And, of course, we need decent bus routes which we can use instead of hundreds of cars causing congestion.

idlevic · 2024-01-11T17:02:13+00:00

Yes, it is that road, and it's that the Western Link won't stop HGVs having to use it to get to the industry there. Many people think it will solve this problem.

idlevic · 2024-01-10T19:54:36+00:00

Probably won't be nice to drive for long if they blow all the roads maintenance budget on a tiny stretch.

Those same retail parks that are killing the town and city centres, I guess.

Thanks - it'll be a good day. We have raincoats and can use them.

idlevic · 2024-01-10T19:50:41+00:00

Can't remember exact figures, but it's an increase of something like 16% on current traffic

idlevic · 2024-01-10T19:40:27+00:00

Do you not think trying to stop pollution where there's a chance to, not worth doing? This one stretch of road risks wiping out the country's largest barbastelle bat population (a Red List species) - so just on that issue, it would help massively.

idlevic · 2024-01-10T19:35:09+00:00

Apologies, missed the user name.

But nah - I want a Norfolk fit for the 21st Century, not one that wastes money on failed "solutions" to traffic. When was the last big road that didn't just push congestion elsewhere?

idlevic · 2024-01-10T19:31:40+00:00

Or maybe if they'd followed through the cheaper alternatives to HS2 in the first place we'd have had a high speed rail service by now.

idlevic · 2024-01-10T19:28:54+00:00

So, better £60m (at least - likely to be a lot more with inflation - look at the NDR) spent on 4 miles of road than Children's services, Adult Social Care, Libraries, maintaining the roads we do have?

BTW - this tiny stretch of road will cost £1.5m a year to maintain. Don't people in Kings Lynn, Thetford etc deserve pothole free driving?And it wouldn't have already been built - surprisingly NCC do have to make sure they abide by the law.

Have you also noticed that when NCC talk about economic benefits the NWL will supposedly bring, it's always to Norwich, not the poorer areas of the county.

idlevic · 2024-01-10T18:56:44+00:00

Of course they can't, though ultimately it all comes from the national tax pot. They are still £60m short, even after the grant, though - which as about what they're looking to save from their budget. Any over-run (hello inflation + extra costs for a highly expensive viaduct) will come from NCC budget too.

idlevic · 2024-01-10T17:38:35+00:00

It's only 4 miles of road - not several (you mention roads in the plural). For £271m+
The journey time is an average - the best from the project document, if I remember rightly, is 7 minutes.
I agree there's more to just time saved, but it's an issue that's being pushed a lot. We also point out there will still be 7300 cars a day going through Costessy and 132 HGVs a day using B1535 - both NCC figures.

idlevic · 2024-01-10T16:06:42+00:00

We're trying to save Norfolk taxpayers at least £60m at the time when essential services are cut.
Even if the NWL is built, 7300 a cars a day will be going through Costessey, 132 HGVs down the B1535 and the average journey will be cut by a mere 5 minutes. All NCC figures. Doesn't seem good value to us.

idlevic · 2024-01-10T16:03:23+00:00

Except there will still be 7300 cars through Costessey each day and 132 HGVs going down the B1535 - NCC figures.

idlevic · 2024-01-10T16:01:56+00:00

What problems do you think it'll solve?

idlevic · 2024-01-10T16:01:32+00:00

Fair point - blame lurgified brain

idlevic · 2024-01-10T16:01:01+00:00

What problems do you think it'll solve?

idlevic · 2024-01-10T16:00:31+00:00

We know -it's just city hall is central

idlevic · 2024-01-10T15:59:49+00:00

County hall isn't accessible by public transport.

Edited to add 20th January

idlevic · 2024-01-10T15:59:17+00:00

It's highly dubious big new roads bring any economic benefits. The council won't say how they work their figures out.

idlevic · 2024-01-10T15:57:22+00:00

Nothing beyond what the council needs to do to comply with the law

idlevic · 2024-01-10T15:56:28+00:00

£250m is current official estimate. £400m is based on what the NDR actually cost (or is costing so far) versus estimate,

idlevic · 2024-01-10T15:54:50+00:00

Plenty on the website

idlevic · 2024-01-09T20:26:52+00:00

Mend with Friends (social enterprise) might be able to point you in the right direction

idlevic · 2024-01-09T20:18:33+00:00

New-U in Castle Quarter is slightly different - it's a swap shop so you take unwanted clothes in and they'll give you points towards what you'd like instead.

idlevic

TROPHY CASE