The road would connect the A47 in the west and Broadland Northway in the northwest (Image: Norfolk County Council)
A decision to scrap plans for a new £274 million road has left residents angry and disappointed.
Norfolk County Council has announced it is withdrawing its plans for the Norwich Western Link to address environmental concerns. The road was meant to connect the dual carriageways that encircle the city to complete a loop.
The objection by Natural England was regarding the damage the road would cause to the nearby rare barbastelle bats, saying the council’s plans did not provide enough information on how this would be avoided.
In the ten months since the objection, council cabinet member for highways, transport and infrastructure Graham Plant said that the council has been unable to come up with a viable solution.
He said: “I know the withdrawal of the planning application will be immensely disappointing and frustrating news to many of you, including all the individuals, businesses and communities in Norfolk who have been telling us for years that a solution must be found to the transport issues and growing traffic congestion to the west of Norwich.
Plans have been cancelled due to the Barbastelle bats (Image: Getty)
“I can reassure you that the Norwich Western Link remains a priority project for this council.”
Many locals are furious about the current plans being scrapped, having waited years for the project to progress after the completion of the Broadland Northway, a dual carriageway which connects northeast and northwest Norwich and opened in 2018.
One took to Facebook to say: “What a joke. The bats are a poor excuse, especially when they can adapt for them. It’s just a cop-out so the rat run continues through the villages, which is more harm to wildlife.”
Others noted that numerous housing projects have begun in the area the Western Link would cover, which could cause more congestion without proper supporting roads.
A local said: “Whilst I am pleased that the bats get to keep their home, withdrawing these plans is one thing but what does everyone suggest the alternative is?
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“Weston Longville and Ringland are already beyond capacity, where will all the cars go when all the new estates are built?”
Some welcomed the news of the withdrawal, including the anti-roads campaign group Transport Action Network (TAN).
TAN director Chris Todd said: “Norfolk Council has wasted millions of pounds of taxpayers money pursuing this unsustainable and unbuildable scheme.
“The council was warned about the existence of internationally important bat roosts many years ago, but carried on regardless. This issue has finally come back to haunt it and effectively killed the scheme off. The council now needs to focus on measures that will reduce traffic, whilst preserving important natural habitats.”