The  false claim that “traffic will be reduced at a stroke” lives on, unfortunately, as evidenced by George Thompson’s article (11 May) [https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/local-council/unlawful-claim-over-norfolk-local-transport-plan-8957614] . 

People believe it, although Norfolk County Council’s most recent predictions clearly show that traffic, with the Norwich Western Link Road [NWL] in place, would be around 10% more in most roads in Costessey; around 800 more per day on Longwater Lane, for instance.  And don’t imagine for a moment that traffic will slowly decline; one justification promoted for the NWL is to increase commerce, and that ALWAYS means more traffic, everywhere. 

I have huge sympathy for villages and households plagued by excess traffic; that going through Lower Easton is unacceptable, and NCC should have imposed restrictions years ago.  Such inaction there and elsewhere has built up pressure, and people naturally feel a big new road is the only cure.  But we have to look for different, better ways to tackle transport problems which don’t involve trashing one of our greatest assets – the natural environment.  Even central government have realised that things must change and have stated that, to meet our legal carbon emissions obligation, car usage must fall by 20%.   How does a new dual carriageway contribute to that policy?

Let’s take this opportunity to reassess transport in our area, put in some new ideas, such as very good bus services, and save our precious countryside, and our very valuable cash.

Richard Hawker