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Anger is growing over a multi-million-pound safety revamp for a major Norwich road as council leaders admitted the scheme is delayed due to "conflicting challenges". A share of £32m from the government's Transforming Cities pot is due to be spent on Sprowston Road to make it safer for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists. Consultation has taken place, with calls for new crossings, action to stop illegally parked cars and changes to ease congestion .
But critics have slammed Norfolk County Council for "radio silence" over the scheme since it was announced in 2021/22. And council leaders admitted they are struggling to come up with a suitable project. There had been fears the council could lose the money for the work, but the government granted an extension for it to be used .
Green city councillor Alex Catt (Image: Archant) Alex Catt, Green city councillor for Sewell, questioned the limbo at a recent meeting of County Hall's Conservative-controlled cabinet. He said: " Since the council made an extension request in 2022, there has been radio silence. "Meanwhile, rat-running and speeding are worsening, pavements are clogged with parked cars and buses mount the pavement, putting people at risk.
"Safety for cyclists in the area is poor, and air pollution a serious issue." Graham Plant, Norfolk County Council cabinet member for highways, transport and infrastructure (Image: Norfolk County Council) Graham Plant, the county council's cabinet member for highways, infrastructure and transport, said the consultations had confirmed "a number of conflicting challenges" to solve the issues in Sprowston Road. He said: "There is not yet a clear solution that improves the passage of buses and meets the needs of those who walk, wheel and cycle, while improving the street scene and maintaining the existing level of on-street parking, which were clear messages that emerged from the consultation.
"The project team have been working to fully understand the positive and negative impacts on all the different user groups of a number of options to try to resolve the competing issues." He said a future report would detail proposals to overcome the challenges around the Sprowston Road scheme. Julie Brociek-Coulton (Image: Victoria Pertusa/Newsquest) Julie Brociek-Coulton, Labour county councillor for Sewell, said she had been "banging the drum" and was growing increasingly frustrated at the lack of progress.
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