Supporters of a controversial road project have hit out at government officials they say are holding up the construction of a dual carriageway vital for the building of a massive housing development.
Tory leaders have accused public bodies of "standing in the way" of the Norwich Western Link, which they say is needed if plans for more than 1,500 homes built near Thorpe Marriott go ahead.
They claim that the road is vital to ease congestion in the area once the development is completed.
But Natural England is blocking the Western Link, saying that the mitigation measures in place to protect a rare bat species do not go far enough.
This means it could be several years before the road can advance.
MARRIOTT'S PARK
Plans have been approved for a new village called Marriott’s Park to be built between Thorpe Marriott and Marriott’s Way.
Along with 1,530 new homes, it will also include land for a primary school, a medical or community centre, shops, pubs and takeaways.
But Stuart Clancy, Norfolk county councillor for Taverham and Thorpe Marriott, criticised the plans saying that guaranteeing the completion of the Western Link should have been confirmed before the development got the go-ahead.
He has now hit out at the government agency holding up the building of the Western Link, saying locals “deserve better”.
He said: "The majority of people opposed to the road are people that do not live in the western fringes of Norwich.
"The road is supported by the majority of locals, business groups and parish and town councils in this area.
"You're always going to need cars, vans, lorries and buses for the transportation of goods and services, and more vehicles will need access to our roads, whether they are electric or not.
"Businesses won't invest in the area if the infrastructure is not there."
Conservative MP Jerome Mayhew has also highlighted the importance of the road.
He said: "Residents in Taverham know how many vehicles already use unsuitable roads to cross the Wensum to get to the A47.
"1,500 additional homes is going to make the problem even worse without the Western Link Road.
"New housing has to come with the infrastructure needed to make it work, whether that is a new road or a new medical centre.
"Without it, the new housing just adds to the difficulties of the host community, fuelling resentment and increasing resistance to building the new homes needed for our children.
"The NWL scheme will provide significant economic and transport benefits to the region. It will support and improve access to ambitious growth plans at three major employment and enterprise hubs in Greater Norwich whilst easing traffic congestion on local roads and in blighted communities to the west of Norwich.
"Without the NWL, these difficulties, already severe, are projected to worsen due to housing and employment growth in the area."
A SERIES OF HOLD-UPS
Norfolk County Council's hopes for the road have faced a series of blows over the last few years.
Officials said: "Based on the information and evidence that Natural England has assessed to date, we do not consider it is possible to effectively mitigate/compensate the impacts of the proposed scheme on this barbastelle bat population, which is of national importance."
Natural England then threw another spanner in the works by adding North Wood, located between Ringland and Weston Longville, to its ancient woodland inventory.
This list must be consulted by local authorities to ensure new developments will not negatively impact protected habitats.
Recently, environmentalist Dr Andrew Boswell tried to block the dualling of the A47, which would form key links to the Norwich Western Link, and his case was taken to the high court.
Dr Boswell lost his case.
Leaders at City Hall have pledged to block a pot of money shared by a group of councils, known as the Greater Norwich Growth Board, from being used for the road and making up this shortfall.
Despite the Department for Transport pledging to give £213m to the project, £274m is needed to ensure the completion of the road, leaving Norfolk County Council with a considerable shortfall in funds.
WASTING MONEY
In March, it was revealed that Norfolk County Council had already spent around £47m on the road.
Cllr Stuart Clancy has shared his frustration that the cost of the road is racking up as people continue to block the road.
He said: "There has been a lot of work done on this proposal over the last 11 years and it has been very costly.
"It is frustrating the length of time that bureaucracy has taken, which has only contributed to the rising cost of the road and slowing the process.
"This has massively impacted on the cost of the road and it would have been significantly cheaper 11 years ago.
"It is very important that public money is deployed well and that people get value for their money, too.
"It should not be taking the length of time that it is.
"Businesses and residents deserve better.
"Norfolk County Council has been working hard throughout the process to get the road over the line and MP Jerome Mayhew has secured a lot of funding for the project but people are just standing in the way."
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