Norwich Growth and Development Consultation :
Joint Core Strategy Public consultation

Dear Norwich Citizens and Friends,
April 2009

I've just been to a public exhibition about plans for dramatically expanding Norwich over the next 17 years. I felt so concerned about the huge scale and type of development planners want to spread over the Norwich area that I have set up a this page to alert others. To see the exhibition posters on-line go to: http://tinyurl.com/gndp-exhibition. To read the consultation document, go to: http://tinyurl.com/gndpconsdoc. For one-click access to the on-line consultation go to: http://tinyurl.com/gndp-online-cons.

1. Our local councils who call themselves the Greater Norwich Development Partnership (Norwich City Council, Norfolk County Council, South Norfolk Council and Broadland District Council) want to attract another 33,000 houses in and around Norwich by 2026. They're talking about 100,000 extra people here! Norwich people need new low cost (affordable) housing, not executive housing estates!

2. As a long-time user (and sufferer) of Norwich bus services, I wanted to see plans for a top notch public transport, rail, walking and cycling network. Not a hope! Instead, our councils want to make the Norwich Northern Distributor Road - a large, noisy dual carriageway that will attract horrendous roundabouts with out of town shopping - the centrepiece of their transport plans. They want to build this £130 million road outside north Norwich before any other transport systems. There won't be any money left to create the modern bus system we desperately need. To make the road look more important, the Councils have stuffed loads of new housing either side of the road (see map below

3. I am really worried about climate change, but these growth plans will just make Norwich's contribution worse. Lots more housing will mean stress on water supplies. New expensive roads will mean less (or no) money for public transport.

If you have similar concerns, here's what you can do:

1. Fill in the official on-line questionnaire using the link below. The questionnaire contains 28 questions based on a document full of jargon. I've picked out the 4 important ones and noted some points below, but you might want to reply in your own words. For one-click access to the on-line consultation go to: http://tinyurl.com/gndp-online-cons.

On the on-line system you must first register a username and password. From the http://tinyurl.com/gndp-online-cons page you can press the Green links and then the pencil symbol for each question to make you consultation response. For each one, you are also given the choice to 'support' or 'object'.

The bullet point answers below are just given as example issues. PLEASE USE YOUR OWN WORDING in making your answers.

The strict deadline for returning comments is Friday 24 April 2009.

2. Forward this message to the people you know in the Norwich area.

Ideas for filling in the questionnaire (Its official title is the Joint Core Strategy for Broadland, Norwich and South Norfolk, Public Consultation, March 2009).

Q1. Do you agree with the spatial vision and objectives? Yes/No If no, please say which part(s) you disagree with and why.

Possible response: No/Object. " Scale of growth is too high. It will mean too many executive houses - affordable housing should be prioritised. " I don't agree with a Norwich Northern Distributor Road " Investment in public transport infrastructure take priority over road building " Large scale growth and road building will not reduce climate change.

Q2. Have we identified the right critical infrastructure requirements? Yes/No If no, please tell us why.

Possible response: No/Object. I don't support a Norwich Northern Distributor Road. Priority must be given to providing a first class public transport system for Norwich, better rail services and safe walking and cycling networks.

Q4. Do you support the proposed strategy for growth? Yes/No If no, please tell us why.

Possible response: No/Object. " I don't want to see Norwich expand to the size of Nottingham. " There should be more thought to build new homes close to jobs.

Q24. Do you agree with the proposed policy for strategic access and transportation? Yes/No. If no please tell us why.

Possible response: No/Object You can't reduce climate change by building more roads. Nor can you road build your way out of congestion. We don't want more money spent on major road building such as a Norwich Northern Distributor Road which will only encourage people to drive. We want priority given to a first class public transport system, walking and cycling links. The Council's report says nothing about funding buses first.

You might also want to fill in Q28. which asks: Is there anything else you would like to say about the content of this Joint Core Strategy which has not already been covered in the previous questions?

Remember, responses submitted after Friday 24 April won't be counted.

Join the Facebook group for this

Let's go for it. Yours, Lynda Edwards

A Concerned Norwich Citizen