Link road plans withdrawn due to concerns on bats

An artist's impression of the 3.9-mile (6.3km) Western Link road

Plans for a controversial road have been withdrawn because of concerns about its impact on bats, a council has said.

Norfolk County Council was seeking approval from the government to build the £274m Norwich Western Link.

But last year the project's future was thrown into doubt, because Natural England changed rules protecting rare Barbastelle bats that live on the route of the proposed road.

Conservative councillor Graham Plant said the road remained "a priority project", but the council had not been able to resolve the issue and was withdrawing its planning application.

The 3.9-mile (6.2km) Norwich Western Link would connect the Northern Distributor Road (NDR) to the A47 and has been in the works for years.

The county council said the road would cut traffic congestion, reduce journey times and improve air quality in communities.

But opponents suggested it would badly damage the environment in the Wensum Valley and encourage more car use.

Plant, who is responsible for transport in Norfolk, said the council had asked the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and Natural England questions to try and reach a solution.

"Neither response helps to resolve the issue that is preventing us from progressing this important infrastructure project," he said.

He added that the council hoped to have talks with the Department for Transport (DfT) "to agree the way forward".

Graham Plant said he was "disappointed" that the council had withdrawn its planning application

Brian Watkins, the leader of the main opposition group – the Liberal Democrats – said work on the road had already left the council "millions [of pounds] out of pocket".

"We hope that this is finally a turning point, and the administration will take things seriously by looking at other measures which reduce congestion," he added.

Labour's Steve Morphew said the scheme was "clearly flawed" and that the council had been "warned, time and time again" that there were questions over the viability of the project.

And the Greens' Jamie Osborn said the application withdrawal was the "final nail in the coffin" for the planned road.

Defra declined to comment and referred inquiries to Natural England.

James Marshall, Natural England's deputy director for Norfolk and Suffolk, said his organisation was "clear that development and nature can go hand in hand".

But he said Barbastelle bats were "incredibly rare" and that the proposed route "would destroy one of the largest remaining populations in the UK".

"We have worked closely with Norfolk County Council for more than four years on the proposed Norwich Western Link road and consistently advised on our significant concerns," he added.

A Department for Transport spokesperson said: "We will continue to work with Norfolk County Council on measures to improve congestion."