Almost 500 people have had their say over controversial proposals for a £4.4m roundabout revamp.

Consultation over plans to make changes to the Heartsease roundabout in Norwich closed last week.

And 478 people have given their views to Norfolk County Council over the authority's plans, which have been blasted as a "missed opportunity" by two organisations.

The roundabout is one of the trickiest in Norwich for drivers to negotiate and it is difficult for pedestrians to cross at the busy junction, where Plumstead Road intersects with St William's Way, Heartsease Lane and Harvey Lane.

Norwich Evening News: Heartsease RoundaboutHeartsease Roundabout (Image: Denise Bradley)

Campaigners have long called for improvements to be made and the county council's proposals include:

  • Turning roads on the roundabout and its approaches into single lanes.
  • New zebra crossings on all ‘arms’ of the roundabout, including one to replace an existing signal crossing on the northern end of Harvey Lane.
  • New shared-use paths for cyclists and pedestrians around all arms of the roundabout, with other new footpaths and cycleways.
  • More double yellow lines on St Williams Way and Plumstead Road East.

Norwich Evening News: Plans for Heartsease RoundaboutPlans for Heartsease Roundabout (Image: Norfolk County Council)

Norfolk County Council and the Transport for Norwich (TfN) partnership plan to use a slice of the £32m government Transforming Cities money to make changes to the roundabout.

A council spokesman said: "We received nearly 500 replies to the consultation, which is a fantastic response.

"Officers will now work through all of the feedback gathered and consider any revisions to the proposals before presenting a report for discussion and consideration by committee members later this spring."

The proposals have come in for criticism from civic watchdog the Norwich Society and Norwich Cycling Campaign.

Derek Williams, spokesman for the campaign said: "Unfortunately the present plan falls well short of what is needed to make this busy junction safer for all users."

Norwich Evening News: Derek Williams, from Norwich Cycling CampaignDerek Williams, from Norwich Cycling Campaign (Image: THOMAS WOODS)

Matthew Williams, from the Norwich Society, said: "The disappointing proposals, as they stand, are a serious missed opportunity.

"Taking into account the highly disruptive impacts during the course of implementation, we would question whether the proposed scheme is worth doing at all."

Norwich Evening News: Matthew WilliamsMatthew Williams (Image: Matt Williams)

The matter will come before the Transport for Norwich advisory committee at a date to be fixed.