Notes of Closed virtual meeting of North Parish Council with County Council and Highways Tuesday, 4th August 2020, 7.30pm

Present: Mike Smith, Jonathan Stapleton, David Baxter, Andrew Harding and Vicky Turner (Clerk) with James Powis Highways England, and David Allfrey Highway and Major Projects Manager from

Introduction by HE and NCC

It was confirmed that further local liaison meetings would be held imminently with invitations to be sent out to Parish Councils for a first look at the revised design of the A47 route. Next meeting planned for 18th August 2020.

Item 1 - Connecting

North Tuddenham – Lyng - at Poppy Wood

Issues Without a connection from old Main Road in into Hockering using part of existing A47, there will be no direct route between two villages. Situation complicated by amount of HGV traffic coming into North Tuddenham from Stone Road direction. High speed traffic coming from Lyng direction into North Tuddenham. Points raised

• Traffic counting measures requested to quantify problem • T - junction to slow down HGVs • Speed limits - 40 mph preferred to 50mph. New houses on Main Road • Exiting Fox Lane on flyover - visibility • HGV traffic - direction / strategy wrt new NWL. Strategy to dissuade HGVs from cutting through from Industrial zone and Fakenham Road to exit here to and beyond. • Potential opportunity for bus route from through Etling Green, North Tuddenham and Hockering into No traffic surveys undertaken to date. Requests for the T-Junction to impede speeds of HGV traffic is still proposed in the plans at the present; Highways agreed to investigate reducing the speed limit through North Tuddenham to 40mph minimum, under the remit of NCC Speed Management Strategy. Both James and David confirmed they would work with us to reduce speed limits from Dereham end of village down to 30mph whilst in village and then either 40-50mph between North Tuddenham and Hockering, if a bus route is agreed, the 30 mph will be important to reduce risks when bus stops etc. They advised we need to get the support of our County Council Member for this issue.

James confirmed (as we understood it) that the T junction on Stone Road and the joining of North Tuddenham – Hockering on the old A47, was very likely to happen. James also confirmed if at any point this looked in doubt, he would let you know so we could start putting pressure on to make it happen. Visibility issues upon exiting Fox Lane flyover will be investigated by NCC Highways as not part of the HE scheme – trimming of verges can be undertaken to alleviate visibility issues. Potential new bus routes into Norwich – whilst it is beyond the remit of NCC and HE to enforce new routes, advice can be tendered via recommendations for additional services. NCC Highways can liaise with Parish Councils and bus operators to investigate potential introduction of new services but there would need to be evidential demand in order to progress. David (Norfolk Highways) confirmed he would provide Mike with contact name and details of the bus company contact so we can start (with Hockering) lobbying a bus route. Restrictions on speed limits in the village were discussed again and attention drawn to risk management surrounding school bus services that already stop in the 50-60mph zone. This again would need to be viewed by NCC in the context of the Speed Management Strategy. NCC to provide Mike Smith with details and contacts of ‘First’ Bus Group to enable initial discussions.

Item 2 - Closure of Low Road East at Hockering end of village

Issues

The planned new A47 will cut through this road and closure of Low Road East at the Hockering end makes sense from a safety point of view and has not met any opposition from local businesses. The future of Lane in Hockering which will also be dissected in unclear, whether it be will closed to all traffic or partial traffic. Access to Mattishall and the surgery is important. Whatever happens here it will pose problems in the village at the Fox Lane/Low Road East / Mattishall Lane near the Villager Hall.

Points raised

• Fox Lane is single track but is often used by Norwich bound traffic avoiding the A47 and going via Mattishall and . This situation will only get worse. • Any future joining of North Tuddenham and Hockering at Poppy Wood will mean more traffic going over the flyover at Fox Lane going to Mattishall for the surgery. There are other routes, but this is the nearest. • The junction itself is a blind one. Potential accident black spot. Maybe Fox Lane exit at the junction should be moved opposite to Mattishall Lane? • Mattishall Lane is narrow and not fit for the volume of traffic. Traffic flow measurements? • Is the narrow 19th century narrow bridge (Clippings Bridge) over the on Mattishall Lane fit for current /projected volumes and weight of traffic.

Discussions surrounding potentially heavy traffic volumes using these routes, particularly through Fox Lane and Mattishall Lane, took place. Already a prime route for patients attending the surgery and for parents driving children to school, any further exacerbated use by HGV’s or cars using this as a cut through were agreed by HE and NCC as potential issues. No traffic volume surveys have been undertaken in this area to date. Options such as creation of a flyover/underpass were discussed to circumvent Fox Lane , Hockering. James said the Mattishall lane underpass / overpass of the new road is being considered; we requested if this is not agreed, they would contact Mike Smith immediately so we can put pressure on David etc for 30mph speed limit along Fox lane to include over the “old” bridge going to Mattishall. We were reminded that these will again be dependent on the safest method of construction given environmental and budgetary limitations. NCC and HE agreed to consider before the next liaison meeting. All feedback will be considered within the context of the ongoing plan production. Construction period – temporary road closures and speed limits are likely to be in force once work commences which will be devised in accordance with the Speed Management Strategy guidelines. James and David intimated that temporary speed restriction could also be put around the village, and specifically Fox Lane Budgetary constraints are coupled with compliance and safety expectations and if schemes are feasible and deliverable within budget, HE and NCC both agree there are various curative options that can be proposed.

Item 3 - Exiting A47 at North Tuddenham

Issues Both the east and west bound exits have very sharp bends. The west bound exit in particular has seen several accidents Points raised Smoothing of exits? Smoothing of exits will not be possible on these bends but signage can be considered to encourage considerate and responsible driving, as well as warning approaching motorists of the adverse bends upon exit.

The meeting closed at 8.25pm