South Norfolk Village Clusters Housing Allocations Plan (Reg. 19 Pre-submission Draft)

i) A pedestrian crossing on the B1113 in Swardeston should form part of any development consent.
ii) Speed reduction measures on the B1113 in Swardeston should form part of any development consent.

Swardeston Parish Council makes the following submissions in respect of the South Norfolk District Council Village Clusters Plan.
The location of any development to the east of the B1113 will result in more pedestrians attempting to cross that road in order to access Norwich bound public transport services, the village’s recreational facilities, the village hall and church. Given that in excess of 50% of road traffic on the B1113 through Swardeston exceeds the speed limit (figures taken from the parish council’s SAM2 monitoring data), and the village now has in the region of 5m traffic movements per annum, steps should be taken to enforce limits and enhance speed-limiting through the village. Consideration should be given to the joining up of the two 30mph limits at the edges of Mulbarton and Swardeston (a 40mph limit through a relatively windy and narrow section of roadway), as well as a pedestrian crossing in Swardeston across the B1113 being stipulated as a requirement of any planning consent.

More consideration needs to be given to improving the access between Swardeston and Mulbarton by pedestrians and cyclists if the services in Mulbarton are to be accepted as part of the plan for further Swardeston growth.

Swardeston Parish Council makes the following submissions in respect of the South Norfolk District Council Village Clusters Plan.
Mulbarton is stated as having two shops – it has one. A Post Office – it has no Post Office. “Several” takeaway restaurants – it has two. The bus service (incorporating Swardeston) is limited with no evening service to Norwich, the daily service to Diss/East Harling is at the wrong time of day to allow a round trip in a single day. Access to Mulbarton is perilous by bicycle, and the pavement between Swardeston and Mulbarton is narrow, worn, and frequently overgrown, unsuitable for children, prams, mobility scooters, etc. The road is windy with blind corners and not particularly wide, the road is frequented by HVGs and agricultural machinery, making walking and cycling hazardous in the extreme. The vast majority of trips between the two villages are by car.

More consideration needs to be given to improving the access between Swardeston and Mulbarton by pedestrians and cyclists if the services in Mulbarton are to be accepted as part of the plan for further Swardeston growth.

Mulbarton is stated as having two shops – it has one. A Post Office – it has no Post Office. “Several” takeaway restaurants – it has two. The bus service (incorporating Swardeston) is limited with no evening service to Norwich, the daily service to Diss/East Harling is at the wrong time of day to allow a round trip in a single day. Access to Mulbarton is perilous by bicycle, and the pavement between Swardeston and Mulbarton is narrow, worn, and frequently overgrown, unsuitable for children, prams, mobility scooters, etc. The road is windy with blind corners and not particularly wide, the road is frequented by HVGs and agricultural machinery, making walking and cycling hazardous in the extreme. The vast majority of trips between the two villages are by car.

Consideration needs to be given to
a) controlling traffic speed through the village more than is being done at present.
b) improvements to the junction of Bobbins Way/B1113.

Swardeston Parish Council makes the following submissions in respect of the South Norfolk District Council Village Clusters Plan.
VC SWA1 development will result in additional traffic entering and exiting the B1113 – now a major feed route into and out of Norwich, Swardeston sees in the region of 5m traffic movements on this road each year. Consideration needs to be given to a) controlling traffic speed through the village more than is being done at present, b) improvements to the junction of Bobbins Way/B1113. The routing of development VC SWA2 through the same Bobbins Way access will exacerbate this issue. Comments regarding improvement of the pedestrian and cycle access between Swardeston and Mulbarton are welcome, as this would be necessary if such access of the Mulbarton facilities is to be encouraged.

Consideration needs to be given to
a) controlling traffic speed through the village more than is being done at present.
b) improvements to the junction of Bobbins Way/B1113.

Swardeston Parish Council makes the following submissions in respect of the South Norfolk District Council Village Clusters Plan.
VC SWA2 development will result in additional traffic entering and exiting the B1113 – now a major feed route into and out of Norwich, Swardeston sees in the region of 5m traffic movements on this road each year. Consideration needs to be given to a) controlling traffic speed through the village more than is being done at present, b) improvements to the junction of Bobbins Way/B1113 if VC SWA2 is to be accessed via that route. Comments regarding improvement of the pedestrian and cycle access between Swardeston and Mulbarton are welcome, as this would be necessary if such access of the Mulbarton facilities is to be encouraged.