Calls have been made for park-and-ride buses to stop using a city street following concerns about safety of people living in the area.

Norwich has six park-and-ride sites throughout the city including the Sprowston service which operates from Wroxham Road and takes in Silver Road as part of its route.

Julie Brociek-Coulton, a city councillor for Sewell ward, said she wants bus bosses to find an alternative road because it is too narrow to take the double decker park-and-ride service.

She said: 'I know what a wonderful service the park-and-ride is to our city, but please could they refrain from running it down Silver Road?

'I have had several complaints from residents saying how dangerous it is for a double decker to be going up and down this road.

'The road is very narrow when cars are parked both sides and it must be difficult to turn right from the bottom of Silver Road into Sprowston Road.

'It is essential that, especially at school times, we have the safety there for the children. I know that the buses choose the quickest route, but in Sewell ward there are important safety aspects to consider.'

A spokesman for Norfolk County Council, which is responsible for park-and-ride, said services are registered to use a number of alternative routes to allow operational flexibility and reliability.

He said: 'On the Sprowston service these routes include Silver Road, as well as Sprowston Road/Magdalen Road and Constitution Hill. None of these is ideal, but all have been used from time to time where it benefited passengers.

Overall, there are in fact fewer park and ride buses on this route. The County Council is having to reduce its park and ride subsidy and since the beginning of April the number of buses serving Sprowston park and ride has been cut back to three, running every 15 minutes. However, these are now double-deckers, and Silver Road has recently been favoured as the best route to ensure reliability.

Maintaining a fast and reliable service is essential for park and ride to remain an attractive option for people who could choose to add to congestion and rate-running by taking their cars into the city.'

In addition to Sprowston there are park-and-ride sites at Norwich Airport, Postwick, Harford, Costessey and Thickthorn.

Around 3 million passenger journeys a year are made on Norwich park and ride services. Buses to Costessey, Harford and Thickthorn are operated by Konectbus Ltd and the Airport, Postwick and Sprowston by Norse Group.

Are you worried about a road safety issue where you live? Call reporter Peter Walsh on 01603 772436 or email peter.walsh@archant.co.uk