Norwich Western Link is a 'zombie project' claim critics

Critics said objections from influential organisations, rising costs and delays suggest Norfolk County Council's 3.9-mile-road is unlikely to go ahead.

Steve Morphew (Image: Archant)

Steve Morphew, leader of the Labour group at County Hall, said members of the Conservative-controlled cabinet should "fall on their sword and take responsibility".

He said the council, which has spent £40m on the scheme to connect the Norwich Northern Distributor Road to the A47 near Honingham, should talk to the government about alternative plans to tackle village rat-running.

An visualisation of how the Norwich Western Link would look (Image: Norfolk County Council)

Mr Morphew said: "The Western Link is a classic zombie project. Clearly no longer viable and still sucking up resources.

"Norfolk Tories must start talking to the government and council about an exit strategy to minimise the financial damage and fund other solutions to the rat running issues.

"The leader will have to choose who of her cabinet fall on their sword and take responsibility for what has turned into a fiasco."

Graham Plant, Norfolk County Council cabinet member for highways, transport and infrastructure (Image: Norfolk County Council)

Graham Plant, cabinet member for highways, transport and infrastructure, said: “The consultation on the planning application for the Norwich Western Link only closed last week.

"As we said then, we need some time to consider the responses that have been submitted, which is the right thing to do following any consultation.

"Once this is done, we will update people on the next steps."

A visualisation of the Norwich Western Link (Image: Norfolk County Council)

Natural England objected because of the impact on one of the UK's largest colonies of protected barbastelle bats while the Environment Agency also objected.

Natural England has objected to the Norwich Western Link because of its impact on barbastelle bats (Image: C. Packman) The council's planning committee is due to make a decision over granting permission for the road, which includes a viaduct over the River Wensum.

But even if the committee votes to grant permission, the matter could be 'called in', so a planning inspector can decide whether to recommend to if it should go ahead or not.