Fury as huge plan for new £274m road scrapped to save bats

The roadworthy would link the A47 successful the westbound and Broadland Northway successful the northwest (Image: Norfolk County Council)

A determination to scrap plans for a caller £274 cardinal roadworthy has near residents aggravated and disappointed.

Norfolk County Council has announced it is withdrawing its plans for the Norwich Western Link to code biology concerns. The roadworthy was meant to link the dual carriageways that encircle the metropolis to implicit a loop.

The objection by Natural England was regarding the harm the roadworthy would origin to the adjacent uncommon barbastelle bats, saying the council’s plans did not supply capable accusation connected however this would beryllium avoided.

In the 10 months since the objection, assembly furniture subordinate for highways, transport and infrastructure Graham Plant said that the assembly has been incapable to travel up with a viable solution.

He said: “I cognize the withdrawal of the readying exertion volition beryllium immensely disappointing and frustrating quality to galore of you, including each the individuals, businesses and communities successful Norfolk who person been telling america for years that a solution indispensable beryllium recovered to the transport issues and increasing postulation congestion to the westbound of Norwich.

Plans person been cancelled owed to the Barbastelle bats (Image: Getty)

“I tin reassure you that the Norwich Western Link remains a precedence task for this council.”

Many locals are furious astir the existent plans being scrapped, having waited years for the task to advancement aft the completion of the Broadland Northway, a dual carriageway which connects northeast and northwest Norwich and opened successful 2018.

One took to Facebook to say: “What a joke. The bats are a mediocre excuse, particularly erstwhile they tin accommodate for them. It’s conscionable a cop-out truthful the rat tally continues done the villages, which is much harm to wildlife.”

Others noted that galore lodging projects person begun successful the country the Western Link would cover, which could origin much congestion without due supporting roads.

A section said: “Whilst I americium pleased that the bats get to support their home, withdrawing these plans is 1 happening but what does everyone suggest the alternate is?

“Weston Longville and Ringland are already beyond capacity, wherever volition each the cars spell erstwhile each the caller estates are built?”

Some welcomed the quality of the withdrawal, including the anti-roads run radical Transport Action Network (TAN).

TAN manager Chris Todd said: “Norfolk Council has wasted millions of pounds of taxpayers wealth pursuing this unsustainable and unbuildable scheme.

“The assembly was warned astir the beingness of internationally important bat roosts galore years ago, but carried connected regardless. This contented has yet travel backmost to haunt it and efficaciously killed the strategy off. The assembly present needs to absorption connected measures that volition trim traffic, whilst preserving important earthy habitats.”