Norfolk MPs are at loggerheads over the future of the Norwich Western Link, with one saying it is time to "kill off" the scheme and another saying the government must intervene to get it built.

Norfolk County Council announced last week it intends to reduce spending and pause the planning process for the 3.9-mile road, which would connect the Norwich Northern Distributor Road to the A47 near Honingham.

A visualisation of the Norwich Western Link roadA visualisation of the Norwich Western Link road (Image: Norfolk County Council)

Officers acknowledged the £274m scheme has little chance of happening due to opposition from government advisor Natural England, because of protected bats.

The Conservative-controlled authority is pleading for the government to intervene to overcome Natural England's objections to its plans.

Jerome Mayhew, MP for Broadland and FakenhamJerome Mayhew, MP for Broadland and Fakenham (Image: Danielle Booden)

Jerome Mayhew, Conservative MP for Broadland and Fakenham, said: "If the new approach is allowed to stand, it means that we can no longer build significant infrastructure in this country.

"Proportionality seems to have gone out of the window, with no political oversight and an organisation which changes its own guidance.

"If the government is serious about growing the economy, then it needs to step in and solve this issue."

Natural England's objection is based on a change in guidelines over protected barbastelle bats, which live in the area of the proposed road.

The organisation has also said it is unlikely to award an environmental licence needed for the scheme to go ahead, a situation described as a "significant impediment" by County Hall officers.

Clive Lewis, Norwich South MPClive Lewis, Norwich South MP (Image: Newsquest)

But Clive Lewis, Labour MP for Norwich South, said it was time to "kill off for good this ruinously expensive and environmentally destructive zombie road scheme".

He said: "Then we can move on to find better ways of dealing with congestion, pollution and increasing transport needs."

The council's cabinet is likely to agree on Monday (December 2) to reduce spending and pause activity on planning for the road, having already spent close to £50m.

READ MORE: Norwich Western Link Road costing taxpayers £27,000 a day

David Pett, from the Stop The Wensum Link campaign groupDavid Pett from the Stop The Wensum Link campaign group (Image: David Pett)

David Pett, from the Stop The Wensum Link Campaign Group, said: "This is the inevitable conclusion of a project built on poor planning, financial recklessness and an arrogant refusal to consider alternatives.

"Their self-righteous approach has driven the council to the brink of financial ruin, and it is time those responsible are held to account."

Graham Plant, the county council's cabinet member for highways, transport and infrastructure said: "From the very beginning of our work on the Norwich Western Link, we have been committed to developing our proposals in an environmentally responsible way while also making sure we were delivering an effective solution to the transport issues clogging up roads and communities to the west of Norwich and holding back our businesses.
 
"Advice from Natural England has informed our approach to the Norwich Western Link from its early stages.

"Their updated guidance on barbastelle bats, published in March this year just before we were due to submit our planning application, appears to have changed Natural England’s views of our proposals.

"It would have been impossible for us to take this guidance into account before it was published. 
 
"This is a project which has government backing in the form of outline business case approval and the provision of development funding totalling £33m.

"We have therefore written to the government asking them for their urgent assistance to unlock the impasse we have reached with Natural England. We need them to resolve this to inform our next steps."