The Norwich and Norfolk Green Councillors have over the last 24 hours had the chance to study properly the County Council Cabinet's report, published this Tuesday (30 August), giving the preferred route for the Northern Distributor Route (NDR). This is their response.

Said Councillor Rupert Read, Green transport spokesperson: "This 'preferred route' beggars belief: it combines virtually the worst of all worlds. First, it is of course seriously environmentally damaging to the beautiful landscapes of the Wensum and Tud valleys, and to precious parkland and countryside to the north-east of the city. Second, it is patently so far out from Norwich (particularly on the west side) that it would carry very little of the traffic that it was originally supposed to carry, traffic wishing to circulate around Norwich. Thirdly, it will encourage a huge degree of suburbanisation, eliminating once and for all the character of the fine city and its surrounding 'green belt' that so many of us know and love. The Council report admits the extent of likely 'infill' and suburbanisation that the NDR would encourage to the east of the city.

"I predict that, if this preferred route is approved by the Council in September, there will then begin an unprecedented new wave of active opposition to this expensive and damaging road-scheme. This wave of opposition will in all likelihood include legal challenges to the Council over their deeply-flawed consultation exercises, and large-scale direct action from residents and environmentalists determined to stop the road-scheme in its tracks.

"It is time for the Council to give up the NDR with some grace, before they are forced to give it up. Their 'preferred route' is a pointless and silly hodge-podge - and there is no way that it will get government backing. We in the Green Party urge the people of Norfolk to make it quite plain to all their Councillors over the next few weeks that it is time finally to say goodbye to the dream / nightmare of the NDR."