COMMENT - Response to Greater Norwich Local Plan consultation:

Norfolk is a rural area, and tourism is an important business. It is the unspoilt rural nature and the preponderance of wildlife, and, to a certain extent the remoteness that makes it so attractive to many. Increased housing and roads will detract from that, and make life less tolerable for residents.
The incredibly-long documents submitted as part of this local plan (which very few people will ever read) include a statement of intent to improve public transport and promote cycling and walking. How can new roads be part of this plan? Yet the Norwich Western Link and the Long Stratton by-pass both figure in the plan. These expensive schemes should not be included, as some sensible revamping of junctions, and introduction of good public transport will ease congestion and make these new roads unnecessary, as well as improving connectivity for those many people who are unable to drive or do not own a car.
Similarly, the huge increase in housing build will only detract from the general ambience of Norfolk, including Norwich, as an historic city. It is time that local authorities encouraged the government to introduce schemes to make better use of existing housing stock, flats over shops, large houses used only by one or two people; and of course, to reduce immigration and the birth rate. It is local authorities who are landed with the responsibility of catering for this increase in population, and the problems it causes