Rat runs: council to rethink options
Petitions signed by nearly 200 residents opposing changes to the Dereham/Heigham Road junction could make the council go back to the drawing board.
The city council wants to ban right turns off Dereham Road at that junction, as part of plans to bring in a new fast bus route.
A report suggests the council reviews its plans, taking into account the concerns of local residents.
The changes to the Dereham Road/ Heigham Road junction are proposed as part of a scheme to provide a fast, reliable bus service along the length of Dereham Road. But residents on roads like Gladstone Street fear drivers will use their streets as rat runs.
But local people have been vocal about their concerns, turning out in force to a public meeting held in January. In total, 3 petitions have been submitted to the council, objecting to the changes. 18 shops on Dereham Road included a petition against the loss of car parking spaces outside their premises, to allow the bus lane to be built. Nelson Infants also handed in a petition, worried about people using the narrow roads near the school as a cut through.
A report to next week’s Highways Agency Committee, suggests officers look again at the options for the junction, taking into account the concerns raised by local people. The report states: ”Given the strength of feeling [...] it is suggested that all work associated with this junction is deferred to allow officers time to fully evaluate the likely impact on the side roads, to identify potential mitigation measures and to consider whether there are other solutions at the junction that will offer the same benefits to buses and pedestrians. The results of those investigations will be reported to a future meeting.”
The current proposal will cost £350,000, funded by the Greater Norwich Development Partnership (GNDP), using Department of Communities and Local Government Growth Point funding.
Next week’s meeting is open to the public: 10am, County Hall.
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