Councillors are appealing for every household in a large suburb to be involved in a major consultation over the redevelopment of a major road into the city.

Costessey Town Council held an extraordinary meeting on November 21 at the Costessey Centre over plans from Norfolk County Council and Transport for Norwich to change the layout of Dereham Road - at a cost of £6.2m.

Features include the creation of a travel hub off Bowthorpe roundabout, as well as the filling in of the nearby Butterfly Way pedestrian underpass, a reduction in speed limits to 30mph between Longwater Lane and Norwich Road, as well as new bus stops.

New sections of inbound and outbound bus lanes could also be built to cater for shorter and more consistent bus journeys, as well as new pedestrian crossings across Dereham Road and cycle paths.

Norwich Evening News: Dereham Road near the Bowthorpe roundabout, on the edge of NorwichDereham Road near the Bowthorpe roundabout, on the edge of Norwich (Image: Mike Sands)

Councillor Jenny McCloskey said the town council should ask the county council to post information about the consultation to all 8,000 homes in Costessey, rather than a section of people in the suburb, and put on more public events about the proposals.

The proposal was backed by the six other councillors who were present in the meeting and vice-chairman, Terry Laidlaw, said: "Dereham Road is a fundamental artery for us. If you don't ask, you don't get."

Council members also agreed they wanted the Butterfly Way pedestrian underpass to remain for safety reasons but agreed it needed improvements, including to the ramps on either side

Norwich Evening News: Costessey county councillor Sharon BlundellCostessey county councillor Sharon Blundell (Image: Newsquest)

A suggestion has been made by Costessey Liberal Democrat county councillor Sharon Blundell to get school children involved in revamping the underpass.

Chairman Dan Burrill said: "People are unhappy with the removal of the underpass but I would say if it is retained it needs to be upgraded."

Norwich Evening News: Costessey Town Council chairman Dan BurrillCostessey Town Council chairman Dan Burrill (Image: Archant)

He added: "We are generally supportive of efforts to improve buses and facilities for pedestrians and cyclists."

But concerns were voiced over the current bus service and Mr Burrill said: "Getting back to pre-Covid timetables would be a good start."

The council also backed a 30mph speed limit being introduced but said more pedestrian crossings were needed near the Longwater Lane junction.

It would also lodge concerns over the potential loss of mature trees.