Improving the A47 Guyhirn junction improvement
Public consultation
March 2017 This consultation provides you with an opportunity The 6 schemes are: to view, discuss and help shape our proposals 3. Scheme objectives Improving the A47 corridor: and help us understand what is important to our We are improving the A47 around customers and local communities before the The objectives of the proposed A47 Guyhirn A47 Wansford to Sutton dualling junction improvement scheme are: Peterborough, Norwich and selection of a preferred option. We are working closely with local authorities to Great Yarmouth to create better, A47 Guyhirn junction improvement Supporting economic growth ensure that the proposals align with local and safer journeys. regional aspirations for growth and transportation Contributing to regeneration and sustainable within local areas. A47 North Tuddenham to Easton dualling economic growth by supporting employment and residential development opportunities. The There will be a further public consultation before scheme aims to reduce congestion-related delay, any scheme is fi nalised. 1. Introduction A47 Blofield to North Burlingham dualling improve journey time reliability and increase the The consultation will run for 6 weeks from overall capacity of the A47. A47/A11 Thickthorn junction improvement Monday 13 March to Friday 21 April 2017. About us A safe and serviceable network
Highways England is the government owned A47 Great Yarmouth junction improvements 2. Need for the scheme Improving road safety for all road users by company charged with operating, maintaining (Formerly A47/A12 junction enhancements) designing to modern highway standards and improving England’s motorways and major The junction between the A47 (Fen Road to South appropriate for a major A road. A roads. Formerly the Highways Agency, we Brink) and the A141 (March Road) at Guyhirn We are consulting on all 6 schemes at the same became a government owned company in 2015. currently experiences high levels of congestion, time. In this brochure, you can find out more A more free-flowing network acting as a bottleneck, leading to longer and about the A47 Guyhirn junction. To fi nd out unreliable journey times. About the A47 corridor more about the other schemes or request a copy Increasing the resilience of the road in coping of the consultation brochure, please visit: with incidents such as collisions, breakdowns, improvement scheme There are a number of reasons for these delays. maintenance and extreme weather. The route Our investigations to date have highlighted these around A47/A141 Guyhirn junction will be more issues as: In 2014 the government published the reliable, reducing journey times and providing Road Investment Strategy (RIS) setting out Online: capacity for future traffi c growth. a £15.1 billion investment for 2015-2020 to Roundabout traffic capacity www.highways.gov.uk/a47Improvement improve journeys on England’s motorways Improved environment and major A roads. Lack of lane space Email: A47GuyhirnJunctionRIS@ We will protect the environment by minimising The RIS includes a package of 6 schemes Poor visibility on the roads as drivers adverse impacts and where possible, improving to improve journeys on the 115 mile section highwaysengland.co.uk approach the roundabout the environmental effects of transport for those of the A47 between Peterborough and Great living along the existing A47. We will do this by Yarmouth. Together, the proposals will relieve The increasing traffic is outgrowing the reducing the impact of new infrastructure on the congestion and improve the reliability of journey In total, over £2 billion is being invested in capacity of the road, causing tailbacks and natural and built environment. times for drivers. the East of England to create better and safer delays journeys across the region. An accessible and integrated network The A47 trunk road forms part of the strategic road network and provides for a variety of local, Development in the local area, which can lead medium and long distance trips between the A1 We want your views to potentially more vehicles on the road We will ensure our proposals take into account and the east coast. The corridor connects the local communities and access to the road cities of Norwich and Peterborough, the towns of We are consulting on proposals to improve the If nothing is done to improve capacity and network, providing a safer route between Wisbech, Kings Lynn, Dereham, Great Yarmouth A47 Guyhirn junction. This junction on the A47, connectivity, these delays are forecast to get communities for cyclists, pedestrians, and other and Lowestoft and a succession of villages in located to the east of Peterborough, regularly worse in future years. non-motorised groups. what is largely a rural area. experiences congestion and delays. In developing this scheme we aim to address Value for money these issues by improving the junction. The schemes include converting almost Our proposals will create a larger roundabout 8 miles of single carriageway to dual carriageway that will relieve congestion, provide extra traffi c Ensuring that the scheme is affordable and The scheme will support economic growth by and making improvements to junctions across capacity, improve safety and help provide a delivers good value for money. making journeys safer and more reliable. the route. serviceable network. 2 3 Proposed option Junction enlargement
d. 4. Option for A1101 R B1166 n Gedney Hill Gorefield n y L St John’s consultation Fen End B198 B1169 A number of potential alternative n o m options were considered as part of m B1166 o Wisbech d C oa the scheme development process R toonn ain ng A47 M eriingt during 2016. These options did not LLeveev perform well against the objectives Parson Drove M
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and were not progressed any r
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k We are therefore putting forward Elm A1101 O Holly End one option for consultation. ut B1187 A47 B1101 we ll R o nk a ri d B th Proposed option u W o isbech G S Friday Road u Guyhirn ll d R a Bridge o o Outwell R Our proposal is to enlarge the a d Disused railway h A47 c Fen R r junction. oad a see inset M
We propose to increase the size of A1122
the roundabout and create 3 lanes River Nene Upwell HIGH ROAD on all approaches to the junction. March Road
K We also propose to widen the IN A1101 R B H existing carriageway on the River A605 T U O A47 Nene bridge to accommodate the S additional traffi c lane. B1101 A141 Nordelph River Nene d B1094 W oa t R i F il s EN R S b OAD e c h k nnk Westry R a A47 d BBa . t o ooo F n een ttee ix SSi
March D MARCH ROAD
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M B1098 A1101 A141 A141 B1101 Inset © Crown copyright and database rights 2017 Ordnance Survey 100030649 - N160493 - DIAGRAMMATIC
4 5 Environmental constraints plan Guyhirn junction 5. Respecting © Crown copyright and database rights 2017 Ordnance Survey 100030649 - N160493 - DIAGRAMMATIC
the environment Guyhirn Church of England Primary School We will use best practice to River Nene safeguard and protect the local Ashtree B1187 environment. We are surveying the Farmhouse A47 local surroundings and the results Church of will be used to decide ways to St Mary Magdalene both reduce any negative effects Gull Road and contribute towards improving High Road the local environment. We will plan the construction works to minimise Guyhirn effects on the environment. War memorial within the grounds of St Mary It is highly likely that we would Magdalene’s Church
need to acquire land adjacent A47 Fen Road South Brink to the existing junction to accommodate the improvement. Pumping Station
Please see the environmental NIA 11362 constraints plan for details. Existing bridge over the River Nene Legend
Nature conservation Statutory Designated Sites River Nene Local Nature Reserve (LNR) NIA 11363 Cambridgeshire County Wildlife Site Noise Nene Washes Noise Important Area (NIA) SAC / SPA / Listed buildings Moreton’s Leam SSSI Grade II A141 Public Rights of Way (PRoWs) Toll House Bridleway Footpath Non-motorised user routes Footpath Dropped kerbs/Crossing
March Road Other map features Woodland Waterbody/Watercourse
6 7 Local communities If we fi nd any evidence of protected species, Your views are important to us. We will consider we will include methods at the design stage to 6. Next steps all responses to this consultation. Your feedback The public rights of way network will be retained reduce any impacts of the scheme. This work will help inform the decision on the preferred or alternatives provided. Pedestrian/cycle will be carried out in consultation with Natural Preferred route solution. routes and crossings will also be maintained or England and Cambridgeshire Wildlife Trust as improved around the existing carriageway or well as local interest groups. This consultation is your opportunity to express replaced where required. Below are the key milestones and the steps The design will allow for habitat replacement and your views on the current scheme proposals we plan to take before we start construction: We will use earth mounds and planting create opportunities for new habitats. ahead of further development and will help equipment where possible to help screen inform the selection of a preferred option. After the junction from nearby properties. We will Historic environment the consultation ends, we will publish a report Summer 2017 use modern road lighting to reduce any light summarising the responses. From this, we will We will analyse the consultation pollution, where required. The area contains a variety of features of cultural make recommendations for further development responses and undertake additional heritage importance, including listed buildings. of the scheme. technical work Landscape We will include various measures in the scheme Subject to the fi ndings of the consultation, a To reduce the visual impact of the scheme, we design to reduce the impacts on these areas. preferred route announcement will be made in Autumn 2017 will plant areas of trees, shrubs and grassland. If there is a compelling case for the late 2017 and the pre-application stage of the Where possible, we will use native species that Air quality scheme and a suitable option is selected, development consent process will begin. are local to the area. Our initial assessment shows that there should a preferred route will be announced be no signifi cant changes in air quality for the Wildlife and nature conservation residential properties in the area. Most residential Development Consent Order Autumn 2017 A key issue for the scheme is the close proximity areas are expected to experience improved application air quality as a result of the scheme, due to We will engage with communities, land of the Nene Washes Complex to the site, which owners and stakeholders on the preferred improved traffi c fl ows. has the following environmental designations; This scheme is classed as a Nationally route and design Special Area of Conservation (SAC), Special We will monitor the effects on air quality in the Signifi cant Infrastructure Project under the Protection Area (SPA), Site of Special Scientifi c area with the aim of meeting national air quality Planning Act 2008. As such, we are required to Interest (SSSI), Ramsar, RSPB Bird Reserve, objectives. make an application for a Development Consent Reedbed County Wildlife Site and Lowland Order in order to obtain permission to construct Winter 2017/18 Statutory public consultation on the Meadows BAP Priority Habitat. the scheme. The application will be made to Noise preferred route the Planning Inspectorate who will examine the The study area for the scheme includes a range Our initial noise assessment shows that there application in public hearings and then make of habitats that support different plant and wildlife should be no signifi cant changes in noise in a recommendation to the Secretary of State for species. We are currently carrying out ecological the built-up areas near the existing junction. Transport who will decide on whether or not the surveys in the area to identify any evidence of Summer 2018 We will use low noise road surfacing and the project will go ahead. protected species, including bats, badgers, detailed design will include further assessments Submit an application for a Development Consent Order (Planning Application) water voles, great crested newts, white-clawed to determine whether any additional noise crayfi sh, reptiles and birds. We currently intend to make our application by mitigation, such as barriers, is required. summer 2018. Prior to the application, you will We will pay particular attention to the properties have another opportunity to have your say with nearest to the proposed route. a public consultation on our preliminary design Winter 2019/20 proposals. Decision on the Development Consent Water Order (estimated) More information about the Development We will provide appropriate Consent Order process can be found on the drainage to deal with the surface Planning Inspectorate’s website: water from the road. Existing http://infrastructure.planningportal.gov.uk Construction starts* watercourses and groundwater (estimated) will be protected with balancing ponds, pollution control devices 7. What happens next? and water treatment features.
Any improvement to the junction We are at the early stages of this project and there are many stages to come. This includes *Construction on the A47 corridor improvement is likely would be designed to ensure to start in spring 2020. We may need to sequence the fl ood mitigation measures are another opportunity to have your say before a improvements along the route to manage the disruption to either maintained or improved. fi nal decision is made. customers and local communities. 8 9 8. Share your views Confi dentiality and data protection This is the fi rst stage in our consultation process and we would like to know what you think about the proposed option. We will listen to your views and publish a Consultation Report to inform the selection Information provided in response to this For more information about what of a preferred option. consultation, including personal information, information can be requested under the may be subject to publication or disclosure FOIA, see: Join us at one of our events. Members of our team will be on hand to answer your questions. in accordance with the access to information regimes (these are primarily the Freedom Public information events https://ico.org.uk/for-the-public/official- of Information Act 2000 (FOIA), the information Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA) and the Venue Date Time Environmental Information Regulations 2004). Highways England will process your Wisbech St Mary Sports and personal data in accordance with the DPA Thursday 16 March 3pm - 8pm Community Centre If you want any information that you provide and in the majority of circumstances this to be treated as confi dential, please be aware will mean that your personal data will not Guyhirn Village Hall Friday 17 March 10am - 5pm that under the FOIA, there is a statutory Code be disclosed to third parties. Wisbech St Mary Sports and of Practice with which public authorities must Saturday 18 March 10am - 2pm Community Centre comply and which deals, amongst other things, with obligations of confi dence.
9. How to respond
Please only respond using one of the following channels, which have been set up for the specifi c purpose of this consultation:
Online: www.highways.gov.uk/a47Improvement
Email: [email protected]
Post: You can write to us or post paper copy responses to: FREEPOST A47 Guyhirn Junction
We cannot accept responsibility for ensuring responses that are sent to addresses other than those described above are included in the consultation process. All responses must include at least your postcode. Please state whether you are responding as an individual or representing the views of an organisation. If responding on behalf of an organisation, please make it clear who the organisation represents and, where applicable, how the views of members were assembled.
The fi nal date we will accept consultation responses will be no later than 11:59pm on Friday 21 April 2017.
For further information about the scheme or this consultation, please call the Highways England Customer Contact Centre on 0300 123 5000.
10 11 If you need help accessing this or any other Highways England information, please call 0300 123 5000 and we will help you.
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