Disgruntled councillors approved a �215,000 fund for the city's roads while dismissing the sum as 'wholly inadequate'.

Work can now begin on three accident blackspots at junctions on Ipswich Road, Dereham Road and Drayton Road.

But the �215,000 given to the city by Norfolk County Council represents an 80pc drop on previous years.

Norfolk County Council cut money for transport schemes following the slashing of a government grant.

Green Party councillor for Nelson Ward, Denise Carlo, said: 'The proposed sum falls far short of the amount needed for Norwich.

'City residents' requests for minor works are routinely being turned down due to lack of funds.'

At the Norwich Highways Agency Committee (NHAC) yesterday, a plea from families on Mount Pleasant for speed bumps was rejected because of a lack of money, despite almost every resident on the street signing a petition.

Sue Nursey, who presented the petition to the committee, said trucks were using the narrow street as a rat run, endangering schoolchildren.

Vice chair of the committee, councillor Bert Bremner, said: 'We have to go cap in hand to the county. We want more provision, but we do understand the situation.'

But the money which has been granted will be used to improve roads over the next year.

The first proposal is for a larger waiting area and wider footpath at Ipswich Road and Ipswich Grove, near Newmarket Road.

At the Dereham Road and Nelson Street junction more will be done to warn cyclists and drivers of each other.

The Boundary Road and Drayton Road junction will have signs on left-turning slip roads to focus drivers on the car in front rather than gaps in traffic.

A further �25,000 will be spent on bus stops, and �20,000 on dropping kerbs and another �20,000 on minor works.

The lack of funds means no money will be spent on new pedestrian crossings, traffic calming schemes or 20mph speed limits, unless there is a real need.