Road building project delayed for decade because of rare snails

By Dan Grimmer

A multi-million-dollar road safety project has been held up for nearly a decade by a study into the protection of rare snails.

Plans to dual the A47 Acle Straight in Norfolk were halted in 2015 because of the presence of the Little Whirlpool Ramshorn Snail, which measures just one-fifth of an inch across.

The molluscs live in dykes along a 6.8mile stretch of the road and National Highways began investigating if they could be relocated.

It was meant to finish five years ago in 2019, but was extended into 2023 due to 'mixed' results.

Now bosses at National Highways have announced the results of the study will not be published until later in the summer this year.

Construction cannot begin until the snails are successfully relocated because they are on an international 'red list' of endangered species.

The farcical situation has emerged as the new Labor government vows to crack down on NIMBYs and petty environmental challenges which thwart infrastructure projects.

James Wild, Conservative MP for North West Norfolk, said the snail study had taken an "extraordinary" amount of time.

At a recent meeting of the A47 Alliance at which Highways England announced the latest timeframe for the research - he asked officials: "Are you seriously saying there has been an eight year study into this?"

Jan Challis, from National Highways, told the meeting: "Between 2016 and 2023 several populations were moved and monitored to understand their survival rates.

"That study will report this summer. I do not know the details of what is is going to say but it will be given to Natural England, who will then take a view on it."

He said: "The snails are not the only reason for the Acle Straight being in the situation it is in. It is one of very many factors - environmental, financial and the rest."

Mr Challis said the scientists it had commissioned had to work according to guidance from government advisors Natural England.

He said: "The snails are not the only reason for the Acle Straight being in the situation it is in. It is one of very many factors - environmental, financial and the rest.

"We have to wait until the summer to find out results of the study and then wait for Natural England to see if the snails are moveable, before we find out what the future holds."

Graham Plant, Norfolk County Council's cabinet member for highways and chairman of the A47 Alliance, which lobbies for the dualling of the road, said: "It seems that Natural England can take as much time as they like, and in the meantime, we see people die on the Acle Straight.

"I just wonder what the priority is here."

It is the second huge road project in Norfolk to run into problems as a result of wildlife and concerns from Natural England.

The organization has effectively vetoed the council's flagship Western Link road because of the presence of rare bats along the proposed route.

While $300m of work is earmarked for the A47 - and work has started to dual sections from Blofield to North Burlingham and Easton to North Tuddenham - the Acle Straight has never been included in any plans.

That is despite decades of calls from campaigners. The road is considered particularly dangerous because cars involved in crashes can end up submerged in the water-filled dykes next to the carriageway.

The A47 Alliance hope to build a strong case for the project, to persuade the government to fund the required upgrade.

The snail situation has parallels with another major Norfolk road project.

Norfolk County Council's proposals for the £274m Norwich Western Link road could be scuppered because of the presence of rare, protected barbastelle bats.

That 3.9-mile road, which would connect the Norwich Northern Distributor Road to the A47 near Honingham, has long been a priority of Conservative-controlled County Hall.

Natural England has objected to the proposals because of the potential impact on the bats and has signaled it would not award the license which would be required to disrupt or harm them to build the road.

Environmental concerns also led to lengthy and costly delays to the other A47 dualling schemes after an eco-activist launched a series of legal challenges.