Public urged to have their say on Norwich northern bypass
Dan Grimmer
Thursday, January 24, 2013
6.30 AM
The public will get the chance to have their say on revisions to Norwich’s proposed northern bypass next month, when a series of roadshows take place in and around the city.
The £141.5m scheme, known as the Northern Distributor Road (NDR), has been on the drawing board for a decade and £86.5m towards the cost has been secured from the government. But the 19.5km road, which would stretch from the A47 at Postwick to the A1067 Fakenham Road, has yet to get planning permission. Council officers are hoping the road can be fast-tracked through the planning process, by getting it designated as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project and are still talking to the Department for Transport about that. In the meantime, revisions to the route, made after public consultation last summer, will be presented at roadshows starting next month.
The changes, which will add an extra £5m to the cost of the road, include shifting a roundabout earmarked for Fir Covert Road in Hellesdon to Fakenham Road and swapping a proposed pedestrian, cycling and farm vehicle bridge at Low Road in Great Plumstead for an all-vehicle bridge at Middle Road, with Low Road closed.
The exhibitions will take place as follows:
February 4: Hellesdon Community Centre, Middletons Lane, 3pm to 9pm
February 5: Sprowston Diamond Centre, School Lane, 6.30pm to 9pm
February 7: The Forum, Millennium Plain, Norwich 9am to 4pm
February 11: Taverham Village Hall, Sandy Lane, 3pm to 9pm
February 13: Rackheath Holy Trinity Church Hall, Salhouse Road, 3pm to 9pm
February 14: Horsford Village Hall, Holt Road, 6.30pm to 9pm
February 15: Dussindale Community Centre, Pound Lane, Thorpe St Andrew 4pm to 7.30pm
February 19: Old Catton Village Hall, Church Street, 7pm to 9.30pm
February 21: Great Plumstead Parish Hall, Church Street, 3pm to 9pm
February 25: Easton Village Hall, Marlingford Road, 6.30pm to 9pm
February 27: The Costessey Centre, Longwater Lane Recreation Ground, 2.30pm to 5pm
March 1: St Faiths Centre, Manor Road, Horsham St Faith, 3pm to 9pm
March 6: Postwick Village Hall, Ferry Lane, 6.30pm to 9pm
March 8: Spixworth Methodist Church, Godfrey Road, 6.30pm to 9pm