Norwich residents receive update on congestion charging

Added: 15/05/2008
Category: Norfolk County Council

Norwich residents will hear how a Norwich congestion charge would raise enough money from motorists to cover its own costs - but not to fund a significant improvement in public transport or other major transport schemes.

That's the findings of a report by Norfolk County Council, which carried out a part government-funded study on road user charging to see whether it could help to tackle city congestion and enable major transport improvements in the future.

The Norwich Area Committee, which is made up of all members of Norfolk County Council representing divisions in Norwich, will meet on Thursday 22 May at Russell Street Community Centre, off Heigham Street, Norwich, to hear the report by Mike Jackson, Norfolk County Council's Director of Planning and Transportation.

At the meeting, which is open to the public and starts 6.30pm, members will learn how officers are recommending the study is brought to a close, as it found that charging for vehicles to go inside the Norwich Inner Ring Road would only produce a 'modest' surplus, insufficient for significant investment in public transport, other transport projects and services.

Instead, the report backs a case for a Norwich Northern Distributor Road as it would produce similar city centre improvements, without the need for congestion charging. The study also found that the NDR was essential if any charging scheme was to be effective in reducing overall congestion - without the NDR, new patterns of congestion would emerge as motorists tried to avoid the charge.

Members and residents will hear how the County Council, with support from Norwich City Council, took advantage of the Government's Transport Innovation Fund to investigate whether road pricing would be a way of managing congestion in the city, while providing a new source of money for transport investment in the area.

The committee will also hear whether or not Norfolk County Council's Cabinet agreed to bring the study to a close, while continuing to investigate complementary measures and other opportunities for funding transport, at its earlier meeting on Monday 19 May.

Sue Whitaker, Labour member for Lakenham and Norwich Area Committee Chair, said: “Norwich is a fast-expanding city and we need to do everything we can to make sure our transport infrastructure can support that growth. If the congestion charge study is brought to a close, then it is vital we continue to look at all other options available to us to best meet Norwich's future transport demands."

At the meeting, members will also hear a report which considers national and regional issues affecting business waste in Norwich. The report gives details on the current environmental support available for Norwich businesses and planned future initiatives.

The Norwich Area Committee will meet at 6.30pm on Thursday 22 May at Russell Street Community Centre, off Heigham Street, Norwich. Members of the public and the Media are very welcome to attend.