Proposer: Councillor Carlo
Seconder: Councillor Grahame
Public
transport has a vital role in enabling Norwich residents – especially the 33%
of households without a car – to access employment and services.
The
Joint Core Strategy Implementation Framework (2014) programmed delivery of Bus
Rapid Transit for the Norwich area in three phases, as a key part of the
sustainable transport plans to accompany the NDR. The first phase should now be
complete, but the timetable has slipped and it is unclear how future phases
will be funded.
Meanwhile,
last month, county councillors voted to cut bus subsidies and spend £1m on
investigating extending the NDR across the Wensum valley.
Council resolves:
1. To acknowledge that in order to achieve sustainable
development for Norwich, it is essential to give the highest priority to
delivering Bus Rapid Transit and Core Bus Routes.
2. To oppose the spending of any further public money on
investigating an extension of the NDR across the Wensum river valley.
3. To actively seek, through its representation on the
Greater Norwich Development Partnership, a policy commitment in the emerging
Greater Norwich Local Plan that the Bus Rapid Transit and Core Bus Routes will
be delivered before any further local spending on new roads.
4. To ask the Leader of the Council to write to the Greater
Norwich Growth Board, Norfolk County Council and New Anglia LEP informing them
of the above resolutions.