The advocates of the NWL say it will relieve traffic congestion in underlying villages. NCC base this on traffic movement modules. Doubt exists whether the data used for these models is up to date and indeed reliable.
Those behind the recently opened Beccles relief road claimed the same. Not surprisingly the road has not reduced traffic. It’s actually increased. So much do SCC is about to undertake new traffic surveys!
One observer made a valid comment. “If people think it is a shortcut then the mindset is that it must be quicker’
Those living in Weston Longville Ringland and Costessey who support the NWL please take note.
Read what follows. It seems to me that it’s the practice of the Council to put a finger in the air and to then cross fingers. In the case of the NWL this will be a very costly gamble. NCC should make the traffic data on which it relied public so that it can be objectively analysed. We should all be calling on NCC to produce this data.
‘A traffic survey is to be carried out by Suffolk County Council to analyse useage of the road, and other roads in the town and nearby villages.
Clive Wilkinson, project manager for Suffolk County Council, said: “With projects like this, we wait six months before carrying out traffic surveys because we need to let people suss out their new routes.
“We can’t do it during winter or at Easter because there is always less traffic, so we are looking to do one at the end of March.
“One of the most important signs is on the A146 at Morrisons and we have totally replaced that now.
“We don’t want to be in a position where we need to change signs two or three times, and we need to find the best solutions for the area.”
The traffic survey will include the use of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology, with the results expected to be analysed by the end of April.
Another meeting is to be held between the interested parties involved once the results are known.
Suzanne Buck, transport, policy and development manager for Suffolk County Council, said: “We need to look at the whole picture.
“People drive to the environment and local people become blind to signs, so signage is not enough.
Please sign the petition to stop the NWL : http://chng.it/CrHBrT9n
David Pett