Business leader calls for more investment in roads

Nova Fairbank said improved infrastructure will help economic growth in Norfolk

A business leader has called for more investment in the roads across a county.

Nova Fairbank is the chief executive of the Norfolk Chambers of Commerce, which supports the county's business community.

She said dualling the A47 and completing the Western Link Road in Norwich must be a priority for the next government.

“It’s a must-have for Norfolk Chambers and the wider business community as it will deliver greater economic growth and jobs into this region,” she said.

Nova Fairbank said the Western Link road must be a priority for the next government

The proposed Western Link road is a 3.9-mile (6.3km) dual carriageway which would connect the Broadland Northway at the A1067 with the A47 at Easton.

Norfolk County Council has now submitted the planning application for the road, which will cost £274m.

Yet there have been concerns that the authority may not be granted a so-called bat licence from Natural England.

It needs one of these as there is a super colony of rare barbastelle bats in woodland in the path of the proposed road.

Ms Fairbank said Western Link has a large quantity of support from the Norfolk business community.

“We’d like to see the essential missing link between the Broadland Northway and A47 to be completed,” she said.

“It has an impact on some of Norfolk’s key industries, including agriculture, tourism, manufacturing. It would reduce journey times and transport costs and open up new markets.”

Environmental campaigner Andrew Boswell wants the next government to review the Western Link scheme

Environmental campaigner Andrew Boswell is a member of the Stop the Wensum Link group.

He recently lost a bid to challenge the dualling parts of the A47 at the Supreme Court.

He is calling on the incoming government to review the Western Link project and use the money for what he calls “more sustainable transport projects”.

“[The general election on] 4 July provides a chance to clear the decks of all these MPs who have been cheerleaders for the [Western Link] and other hugely costly Norfolk road schemes,” he said.

“They have ignored the environmental damage, and have attacked Natural England for not getting their own way in destroying our unique Norfolk natural environment.”

'Rat running'

The BBC asked parliamentary candidates for their views, their answers have been listed in alphabetical order by party.

Jerome Mayhew, the Conservative parliamentary candidate for Broadland and Fakenham, said he was behind the road being built, which, he said, would ease rat running through villages to the west of Norwich.

Jan Davis, the Green Party's parliamentary candidate for Broadland and Fakenham, said he was against the building of the road and argued the money would be better spent helping people tackle the cost of living and investing in public services.

A spokesperson for Labour said that any incoming Labour government would carefully consider all infrastructure projects anew. Iain Simpson, Labour's parliamentary candidate for Broadland and Fakenham, was contacted for comment.

Leyla Hannbeck, the Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Broadland and Fakenham, said she would want to find a solution that brings the economic benefits to the region, and that solves rat running. She is also sympathetic to the environment.

Eric Masters, Reform's parliamentary candidate for Broadland and Fakenham, said the road will be an intricate part of the future prosperity of the county.