Council set to reaffirm opposition to link road

An artist's impression of the 3.9-mile (6.3km) western link road

Norwich City Council is set to reaffirm its opposition to a major new road.

The Norwich Western Link (NWL), proposed by Norfolk County Council, would complete a bypass around the city by joining the A1067 Fakenham Road to the A47.

The £274m road has proved controversial, with objections from environmental groups and government advisers Natural England.

Conservative-run Norfolk County Council has said its plan is “well-considered and thorough".

But a report for members of the Labour-led city council cabinet recommends they continue to oppose the plan, as they did two years ago.

It argues there is not enough evidence it would be "a critical part of an environmentally progressive and deliverable transport strategy for the city".

It said the road was unlikely to provide "considerable air quality and decongestion benefits in the city", while there was a lack of proof the impact on wildlife and landscape could be mitigated.

The Western Link would connect to the existing Broadland Northway, also known as the Northern Distributor Road

The report also takes aim at the county council over a decision to scrap a committee involving other authorities' councillors, arguing that there is "no open public forum where decisions are made" on transport decisions affecting Norwich.

It recommends cabinet members submit their response to a consultation on the road, offering it no support, when they meet next week.

The consultation closed last month, but the report advises the city council's comments will still be considered.

At the time of the consultation's closure, Graham Plant, the county councillor responsible for transport, said the Western Link would see traffic congestion cut, while journeys would be safer, quicker and more reliable.

Norfolk County Council said it was considering responses made to its consultation.