Key decisions on NDR and Postwick
The Government is aiming to make key decisions before Christmas on 'programme entry' for the Norwich Northern Distributor Road (NDR), and funding for Postwick junction and Park & Ride improvements.
If the NDR is approved for ‘programme entry', the Government will release £21m for the Postwick Hub improvement (subject to planning and statutory procedures) with the prospect of work starting at Postwick early in 2010. Although a route for the NDR has been adopted by Norfolk County Council, this is still subject to the full planning processes.
The results of a business survey, carried out as part of the autumn ‘Transport for Norwich' consultation (see www.norfolk.gov.uk/norwichtransport ) have been used to support the case for the NDR and Postwick improvement.
- 78% said the NDR would have a positive impact on their business.
- Almost half of these (37% out of 78%) said the benefit would be large.
- 55% said accessibility by road was a weakness of their current location.
Comments that accompanied this response included:
- "Transport is a problem ... it is almost easier to get to London than north Norwich."
- "People from outside Norfolk view us as being in a backwater that they can't get to without spending hours in traffic jams."
- "Congestion causes delay/ wasted time". "Roads in and out of Norwich are poor."
When asked about prospects for the future:
- 57% of companies said they were considering expanding their business.
But
- Most of these (83%) said the provision of adequate transport would influence their decision.
- Nine out of ten companies considering relocation out of Norfolk said that lack of adequate transport infrastructure was a contributory factor.