Serious concerns that a city suburb will soon become dangerous for pedestrians are being addressed after half a year of lobbying.
Broadland District councillor Eleanor Laming has pressed the county council's highways team to investigate the suitability of the crossings in Postwick, a village surrounded by high-speed roads, since the beginning of the year.
Her primary concern is that fast-moving traffic coming off the NDR and into Poppy Way poses a serious danger to cyclists and pedestrians forced to use a single designated crossing at the new Oaks development, just north of the interchange, to reach key resources.
"I have been contacted by residents at the Oaks and Broadland Fields developments with safety concerns about this crossing," she said.
"A new First Bus service has just started in the area, with the nearest bus stop being on Broadland Gate opposite Lidl, but to get to this bus stop residents need to cross Poppy Way and I fear that the existing crossing is insufficient."
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While the crossing has a dropped curb, Eleanor says an increase in traffic due to the area's rapid development will discourage people living in new homes from using active travel, adding that they may deem it safer to travel by car at all times - with the area's park and ride site earmarked for potential closure.
In addition, a planning application has been submitted to build a Shred Station facility on the triangle of land north of the Oaks Lane roundabout.
Eleanor said: "Should this development go ahead, in my view there is no safe access using walking or wheeling to this site.
"I regularly go this way by bike and to access the cycle path outside the potential Shred Station site, I have to cross the A1042 at the designated crossing and go across the busy main road junction with vehicular traffic.
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"There is no safe crossing over the A1042 from south of the road to the cycle path outside the potential Shred Station site."
But six months since her initial query, Eleanor's efforts to raise awareness about the inadequate crossings have paid off.
A Norfolk County Council highways spokesman said: "We plan to undertake a pedestrian crossing assessment on Poppy Way, near the Oaks housing development, later in 2024/25.
"This will consider a range of options, which will then be considered, and shared with the local member and the parish to get their feedback.
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"Any new proposal will then be added to the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan and assessed on its relative priority. Future opportunities are then sought for funding."
And highways officials have also committed to highlighting the need for a pedestrian and cycle desire line in regard to the Shred Station application, voicing their support on the application.
Eleanor added: "From my point of view I am very pleased that highways are looking at this, and at how safety for walking, wheeling and cycling could be improved in the area.
"Postwick is changing quickly with the provision of new development, and people must be able to choose from a range of travel modes so that new developments are not completely car-dependent.
"The Oaks development, when complete, will have 520 houses and a number of residents will want to choose healthier ways to travel, or may not have access to a car."
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