Exchange Street pleas rejected by Norfolk County Council

Exchange Street will open to traffic in a matter of weeks after the decision, taken solely by the council's highways cabinet member Graham Plant, last month.

The decision has been criticised by opposition councillors, businesses and some of the public who believe the street should be pedestrianised. 

Graham Plant said at the recent scrutiny committee that the experiment is over for Exchange Street (Image: Archant)
However, even with the county council's cross-party scrutiny committee on Tuesday, Mr Plant doubled down on his decision to re-open the road.

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He told the scrutiny committee: "When you get down there and have to reverse in the road then it is not safe.

Exchange Street will re-open to traffic in a matter of weeks after calls for compromise were rejected (Image: Newsquest)
"The experiment is over. We have to make sure it's safe for people to use it."

The doubling-down from Mr Plant has come under fire from opposition councillors and members of the public looking for him to reconsider.

Labour councillors had called for a compromise, with the general traffic ban remaining, but taxis allowed to use Exchange Street.

Green councillors called for Mr Plant to be asked to reconsider, saying his decision was not based on sound evidence.

Labour county councillor, Mike Sands, said the compromise solution could have meant taxis and service vehicles could have maintained access (Image: Norfolk Labour Party)
Labour's Mike Sands asked at Tuesday's meeting why enforcement cameras couldn't be used to deter drivers from going down Exchange Street, but was told the council could not legally use cameras where the only way for drivers to turn back was by reversing.

He said: "Compromising could have meant that taxis and service vehicles - those making deliveries to businesses in Exchange Street - could have maintained access."

"There's also a number of businesses that make use of outdoor areas for their custom in finer weather.

"So Graham Plant has effectively set County Council and Highways at loggerheads with City Council because they would have to withdraw any street seating licencing, in the interests of safety.

Liam Calvert, Green Party councillor for Wensum Ward said the council should have looked at increasing public transport or improving signalling for people driving out of the city centre (Image: Newsquest)
"This needn't have been the case."

Liam Calvert, Green Party councillor for Wensum Ward, added: "Instead of looking to find solutions to the traffic backlogs in the city, they have taken a unilateral decision with no meaningful consultation.

"They should instead have looked at increasing public transport or improving signalling for people driving out of the city centre.

"A city that's accessible and open to everyone is what we should be aiming for."

The street, near Jarrolds, was originally closed to the majority of traffic in July 2020 as the city centre reopened after pandemic lockdowns.

But the original closure order comes to an end on November 18, so a decision had to be made as to whether to continue with it.

Peter Silburn, chairman of the Norwich Cycling Group, believes that city has "been forced back in time" after the decision.

He said: "Both the way the decision was arrived at and the decision itself are deeply flawed.

Exchange Street was closed to the majority of traffic in July 2020 (Image: Newsquest)
"It's simply wrong that decisions about transport in Norwich are taken by one person - who doesn’t even live in the city.

"It's nonsensical to suggest - as councillor Plant claims - that allowing through traffic removes the danger caused by drivers illegally trying to access the street.

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"When the police finally started issuing fines the impact was immediate as the number of drivers breaking the law significantly reduced.

Peter Silburn, chairman of Norwich Cycling Campaign said the city had been forced back in time because of the decision to re-open Exchange Street (Image: Newsquest)
"The primary reason given for allowing cars back in Exchange Street was the 'poor level of compliance' by drivers.

"It sends the message that if enough people break the law then they'll just be able to get away with it.

"With this wrong-headed decision to allow cars back in Exchange Street Norwich it's forced the City to go back in time."

Mr Plant said the council could not legally use cameras where the only way for drivers to turn back was by reversing (Image: Newsquest)