Transport campaigners in Norfolk are complaining that the DfT’s proposals for planning sustainable transport beyond 2014 omit the county from proposed strategic national corridors, despite the extensive growth planned there.
November’s consultation on delivering post-2014 transport planning included 14 route corridors linking key centres of population where DfT work would be concentrated. But although the 14 included London-Stansted and Haven Ports-Midlands, neither the A11 or A47, nor Norwich’s rail routes, got a mention, and Norfolk was completely omitted.
The Shaping Norfolk’s Future forum said the review of the UK’s sustainable transport needs post-2014 ignored the needs of Norfolk. It claimed this was another example of a lack of joined-up thinking.
Chairman Peter Barry said that if the county was expected to absorb significant housing growth and expand the port at Great Yarmouth, there needed to be a major rethink.
Norfolk County Council cabinet member for planning and transportation, Adrian Gunson, said the county was expected to have some of the fastest housing growth but the Government would not provide the infrastructure. The A47 ought to be seen as a national corridor, he said. The council’s response to the consultation called for the A11 and A47 connections to Norwich and Great Yarmouth, and Norwich’s rail links to be corridors.
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