A Norfolk ford shut since a driver drowned when his car was swept away is being recommended for permanent closure, despite villagers wanting it to be reopened.
Norfolk County Council has started consultation over a perpetual ban on vehicles crossing at Shotesham Ford, with officers deeming the route too dangerous.
Officers are recommending the ban, where Mill Lane crosses the River Tas, after the death of Barry Howard triggered a review of the ford's safety.
The 75-year-old drowned when his Toyota Yaris was swept down the river as he tried to drive through the ford on his way home to Costessey from a Norwich City evening game at Carrow Road.
Following Mr Howard's inquest, Norfolk's senior coroner Samantha Goward criticised Norfolk County Council for a lack of warning signs and said there "was a risk that future deaths could occur unless action is taken".
The crossing has been closed ever since the tragedy, in December 2023, with concrete blocks placed in the road to stop traffic passing.
Since then, County Hall has carried out a review of the ford's future and its conclusion is that it should be permanently off-limits to motor vehicles.
The report states: "The proposal for a prohibition of vehicles has been carefully developed following site investigations and stakeholder engagement, including input from the Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service, the Environment Agency, Norfolk County Council road safety team and discussion and consideration from council officers."
The council said Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service (NFRS) has attended 12 incidents at the ford since 2019, with 16 rescues, along with Mr Howard's death.
Officials said: "The ford constitutes an inherent and significant hazard to vehicles, particularly during periods of elevated water levels and/or reduced visibility.
"Even with a small amount of water flow over the road, it is very hard to see the edge of the tarmac, and with a 12-inch plus drop, most vehicles can't get back onto the road once off.
"Previous vehicles when driving through have become buoyant and drifted downstream.
"This presents a challenge to NFRS crews as the only access is via boat, which increase the risk to crews.
"This high level of incidents at the ford and a fatality highlights the danger to persons or other traffic using the road and the prohibition of vehicles is the most appropriate way to prevent the likelihood of any such danger arising."
Council officials say they considered and ruled out other options, including improved signs, a bridge and what is known as a Dutch ford.
The latter option would have seen the riverbed raised, making it less likely vehicles would be washed away in floods.
But officials said that would be a "high-cost option" that would not completely remove the hazard.
A bridge would have cost £5m, while improved signs were dismissed because drivers have, historically, ignored temporary signs.
Consultation over the necessary traffic order to ban traffic opened last week and runs until Tuesday, August 11.
Shotesham Parish Council has long been against a permanent ban and chairman Heather Jackson said it still held that stance.
She said: "We are against it being closed. We know there was the tragedy there, which was awful, but we are very much against the permanent closure.
"We have had meetings with highways and made various suggestions of how it could be made safer, without having to close it.
"They hadn't considered things like raising the road surface and cleaning the surface to remove algae."
Mrs Jackson said: "There has to be a way where it can be made safer, while keeping it open."
The permanent ban would only cover motorised traffic, not pedestrians, horse riders or cyclists.
Officers said horse riders "do not pose the same risk", with riders able to "better negotiate the water than vehicular traffic by feeling and responding to the conditions underfoot, maintaining balance and reacting quicker to the conditions".
The said: "For similar reasons, of being able to feel and respond to conditions underfoot and not having a risk of being trapped inside a vehicle, pedestrians do not pose the risk as vehicular traffic."
Cyclists would be allowed to cross after dismounting, but would not be allowed to ride across.
All of Norfolk's 47 fords were reviewed after the tragedy. Castle Acre Ford and West Acre Ford were also closed, with officials stating they might never reopen.
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