Representation by Food Enterprise Park Ltd (Food Enterprise Park Ltd)
- Date submitted
- 17 June 2021
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
Respondent: Food Enterprise Park (FEP) – James Alston as named partyif required FEP are owners and developers of land North of Church Lane, Easton where this an existing LDO for current and future development. FEP has significant concerns over the lack of access provision within the Scheme for the A47 dualling. The present arrangement is for traffic to exit the new route A47 at the grade separated junction (GSJ) and proceed along the side road to Easton before doubling back down Church Lane to the FEP access. From the GSJ to FEP is 2.3km and will involve bringing all traffic past Easton Church to then cross the flow of traffic at the Easton junction and then head west on Church Road. This will put the FEP traffic on the same route at the HTF farm traffic and the other 300+ users of the commercial space at Honingham Thorpe. It is inevitable that traffic from the East will try and bypass the double back and save circa 2.8km of journey by leaving the A47 at Longwater and taking the road through Easton, where they can turn left onto Church Lane and not have to cross the traffic. It is noted that under the terms of the LDO for the FEP phase 1, Blind Lane is required to be closed once certain thresholds relating to developed area and employed persons are reached. Blind Lane is currently easing some of the traffic flow in the area by taking traffic from the west approaching A47 traffic and Taverham Road. Its closure will exacerbate the problem detailed above. Discussions at an early stage of the A47 project inception included designs for a spur off the southern part of the GSJ direct into the FEP, then an access was shown off the Honingham spur and now nothing is provided. It is the opinion of the FEP that the design for the A47 scheme should allow for such an access as an integral part of the design, rather than allowing it to be a ‘bolt on’ later. Designing in an access at an early stage will ensure that it is fit for purpose and could mean that the potential problem with gradient change to the Honingham spur is avoided. The development of the FEP, along with the development of housing around Easton is part of the justification for the A47 project. The design, as submitted will result in those enabling factors becoming even greater hinderances on the local highways network. An access close to the southern part of the GSJ would remove traffic from Easton, reduce journey time, reduce traffic on Church Lane and take traffic away from Easton Church. Provision of an access point for the FEP could also enable the farm traffic for HTF serving Ringland Estate to be kept away from the highways network and Easton, without allowing Blind Lane to remain open to the public as a potential rat run. The respondent requests that the Inspection seeks further consideration on these proposals.