Object

Representation ID: 22513

Received: 16/03/2020

Respondent: Broadland Green Party

Object: The statement clearly says “Infrastructure priorities benefit existing communities ………. and deliver sustainable and active travel choices to promote modal shift.” Yet the plan tries to have both an expansion of roads whilst throwing in just a few aspirational cycle paths and footpaths. This is just not enough and is the wrong way of going about modernising our transport infrastructure. In a recent Blofield parish council meeting with Highways England on the dualling of the A47 at North Burlingham / Blofield, they were asked about the footpaths, cycle ways and bridleways to cross the A47 which have been in existence for centuries. The answer given was “we design the road first and then we look at the footpaths and cycle ways”!! The problem is they are road builders. What they need to be is transport infrastructure facilitators and innovators. It requires a culture change on the part of Highways England and NCC Highways.
Comment: “Smaller scale and rural employment sites are less likely to be constrained by infrastructure requirements” But the plan needs to recognise there are infrastructure constraints in many rural locations from drainage to public transport options, to broadband and mobile phone coverage.
“Greater Norwich partners will continue to work to coordinate delivery with other providers” – Comment: this is an aspiration. Much more effort needs to be made by the partners to coordinate delivery more effectively than now. Examples include NCC Highways working in a more integrated fashion with Highways England. Anglian Water need to be included in housing and business developments which recognise technical, capacity and funding constraints.