Norwich Exchange Street: Cars return amid call for marshals

Exchange Street, which has been pedestrianised for around two years, is a bustling area during the festive period.

It has been the centre of controversy after a woman acted as a "human bollard" to stop cars driving down the road. 

However it seems that drivers are still ignoring the warnings from the county council and are driving their cars through the narrow road.

Matt White, who founded Car-Free Norwich in 2018, said: "On Monday afternoon I went to see how Exchange Street was doing without marshals, as I knew they were being stopped after Sunday.

"Sadly in the space of two minutes, I saw five motor vehicles - cars and vans - driving down the road.

"It was completely predictable that motorists would start breaking the law again, by driving through the pedestrianised zone, as soon as the marshals and barriers were removed.

"It's clear that signage alone is not enough - we need camera enforcement or a physical bollard - and until either of these is in place, we need marshals."

A spokesman for Norfolk County Council said: "Traffic marshals have been directing drivers away from the Exchange Street pedestrian zone over the last few weeks.

"They will continue to operate on some of the busiest days in the run-up to Christmas.

"In the meantime, we have installed additional signage to give drivers a clear and early warning as they approach the restrictions.

"Those who continue to ignore these restrictions on Exchange Street are committing an offence and risk being fined."

Mr White added: "It was so depressing to see pedestrians squeezed back on to the pavement and out of the space that is rightfully, and legally, theirs.

"It's especially annoying that these have been scrapped right before the busiest shopping weeks of the year.

"This will have a negative impact on the local economy too I believe, as we know that pedestrianisation benefits businesses by creating more pleasant spaces to spend time, and money, in."