Norwich: Pottergate congested after Exchange Street closures

Businesses in the nearby Lanes say they have seen a rise in traffic since the road was closed, and are concerned someone could get hurt.

Vehicles are banned from using the network of shopping streets, but locals say an increasing number of drivers are using them anyway, as they try to avoid Exchange Street.

They warn that traffic has been "pushing" pedestrians out of the way on the narrow lanes of Pottergate and Lobster Lane.

Alex Sargeant, 40, who owns two Strangers Coffee branches on Pottergate and nearby Dove Street, said: "We really noticed the increased number of vehicles coming through the Lanes over Christmas.

"Because they’re restricting access through Exchange Street, vehicles are forced to go through Pottergate and Lobster Lane where there are no footpaths and pushing pedestrians out of the way to drive through. I see it on a daily basis.

"The area isn’t very well signposted; people don’t know where they’re meant to be going. We’ve got some people driving the wrong way down the streets. It's chaos."

He added: "It feels like [the council is] making it very difficult for people to get into the city. It has been so hard with road closures, changing of priorities, and pedestrianising of areas that don't need to be pedestrianised. 

"We need to make it easy for people to gain access to our city otherwise we're going to see the high street collapse. It's going to be very depressing."

Mica Carus, 19, who works on Pottergate, added: "A few months ago I noticed a lot more cars and lorries.

"I hadn't even realised they had closed the road and wondered why there was so much new traffic."

Exchange Street was first closed to traffic during the pandemic, to help make social distancing easier and to allow businesses to offer on-street drinking and dining.

Restrictions have remained in place ever since - but become a source of growing controversy.

Many motorists say the closure - which sees vehicles banned between 10am and 4pm - cuts a vital route through the city centre and forces drivers to use far longer routes.

In November, dozens of cabbies staged a protest against the measures.

The same month, a marshal says he was struck by a van as he tried to stop it using the street.

There have also been protests from members of the public attempting to halt traffic, resulting in an arrest.

A spokesman for Norfolk County Council said: "General traffic should not use the Pottergate pedestrian and cycle zone as a through route, and this restriction is clearly signposted."