At a stroke’ was how Tim East described how the Norwich Western Link would cut traffic through Costessey. 

Now, at last, Norfolk County Council have revealed their predictions, and it must have been ‘like a stroke’ for Mr East to see them:  compared with 2019 levels, traffic in Dereham Road, between the Roundwell and Longwater, would reduce by 600 daily (2.3%) and that in The Street by 300 (6.5%).  Average daily traffic through Taverham Lane and West End would INCREASE by 900 (14%) and through Longwater Lane would INCREASE by 800 (7%). 

Some of this may be the result of the proposed A47 dualling closing the roundabout at Easton, which of course would stop the dreadful traffic congestion there. 

What is absolutely clear is that the spending of around £400M on both these big new roads WILL NOT CURE TRAFFIC PROBLEMS in this area.  Fewer residents will gain from reduced rat-running than has been supposed. 

Instead of tinkering with route alignments to ‘greenify’ these roads, it is time we paused them and worked out effective solutions to our transport problems. 

Richard Hawker