Conservatives hope to revive city road scheme

A stalled link road project that has already cost £56m was still "on the table", a council leader has insisted.

Norfolk County Council had to withdraw its plans for the Norwich Western Link (NWL) last year because of concerns about the road's impact on rare bats.

Conservative leader Kay Mason Billig said the authority had received £1m from the government to look at alternative options to the planned route.

However, the Department for Transport (DfT) said that while it knew the road was "an important scheme", it had yet to confirm additional funding.

Mason Billig defended the decision to press ahead with the NWL while speaking to BBC Radio Norfolk, as part of a series of interviews with local party leaders ahead of next month's local elections.

The Tories have 51 of the authority's 84 seats, with the Liberal Democrats, Labour, Greens, Reform UK and independents making up the rest of the council.

Before it dropped its plans for the 3.9-mile (6.2km) link road, the authority had already spent £56m on the project – with the government providing £33m.

Government advisers Natural England had objected to the plan, warning the road would "destroy" the population of "incredibly rare" Barbastelle bats which are protected by environmental law.

Mason Billig said both the current Labour administration and previous Conservative government had been supportive of the £274m project, but "Natural England got between us".

"It should be being built right now," she said.

"This government have actually given us nearly another million pounds to look for an alternative route. The Norwich Western Link is still on the table."

However, the DfT said it had yet to provide the additional funding and would be talking to the council about how much was needed "in the coming weeks".

"We know that the Norwich Western Link is an important scheme for easing congestion and improving journeys for local people," a spokeswoman added.

Mason Billig also stood by her party's record in office, pointing to projects such as the Long Stratton bypass and recently opened libraries in King's Lynn and Great Yarmouth.

She also insisted the contentious sale of 20 care homes - which opposition parties have criticised - was needed to bring in new investment.

"Unless we find a real problem with the provider that we're looking to transfer the care homes to, then it should go ahead," she said.

A full list of the candidates in the Norfolk County Council election can be found here.

BBC Radio Norfolk will be speaking to the other council group leaders through the week.

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