Norwich businesses angry about Exchange Street U-turn

Exchange Street has been the centre of arguments since 2020, when vehicles were banned to allow for outside seating during the recovery from the pandemic, other than delivery vehicles at set times.

Earlier this month, there was a twist in the tale as the contentious pedestrianisation was suddenly scrapped by the cabinet member for transport at County Hall, Graham Plant.

Exchange Street was closed to vehicles around three years ago (Image: Newsquest)
The decision to reopen the busy city centre road is set to come before councillors on Tuesday after opponents called for compromise from the Tory-controlled authority.

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However many shops, some of which have outdoor seating along Exchange Street, could find this under threat and feel the county council should have discussed the proposal with them prior to announcing it.

Nicola Hay, owner of Café 33 in Exchange Street, said the business would be devastated if it lost its outdoor seating area (Image: Newsquest)
Nicola Hay, owner of Cafe 33, said: "We absolutely should have been in the conversation.

"At this point, we have no idea whether we'll be able to keep our outside seating and we have plans in the pipeline to upgrade our seats there.

"It's hard to make those financial decisions when the council can change things at the drop of a hat.

"It would be a devastating blow to us if we lost that area.

"If businesses here were at least kept in the loop, or provided any updates, it would help us plan for the future."

Jenny Armstrong, assistant manager of Côte Norwich, said the business had just renewed its pavement licence (Image: Newsquest)
Next door to Cafe 33 is Cote Norwich, which also offers outdoor dining along Exchange Street.

Jenny Armstrong, assistant manager at Cote Brasserie, added: "We just renewed our pavement licence about a month ago.

"Now we don't even know if we'll be able to keep the seating area with the changes.

"Our revenue would definitely take a hit if we can't keep it - it would be a big blow for us.

"We should have been made aware in advance of the decision to open Exchange Street back up.

"Now we're just being left in the unknown."

Businesses like Café 33 and Côte are worried they'll lose the ability to offer outdoor dining to their customers once Exchange Street is reopened (Image: Newsquest)
After this newspaper contacted the council about the matter, it said it considered feedback from businesses after the initial closure was extended.

A spokesman for Norfolk County Council said: "The closure of Exchange Street was first put in place during the pandemic as part of social distancing measures that allowed the introduction of outdoor seating.

"This was extended using an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO), which included a 12-month consultation period, where we could review the scheme and consider any feedback, including the views of local businesses.

"Our traffic monitoring has shown that a significant number of vehicles are continuing to use the road.  

Graham Plant, cabinet member for highways, infrastructure and transport at Norfolk County Council (Image: Archant)
"It's clear that maintaining the current arrangement would continue to see an unsafe mix between vehicles and those walking, wheeling or cycling.

"Therefore the restrictions will not be made permanent when the ETRO expires".

The decision was taken by Mr Plant alone after he decided to scrap a committee which had met to discuss Norwich road schemes - which has been criticised by opponents, including leader of the Labour-led city council, Mike Stonard.

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Christopher Cooper, owner of Tolar Jewellery, said: "We should have been given a voice.

"I think businesses along Exchange Street should have been asked by the council what our views were on it re-opening and not just blanked.

"Places like Butcher Bhoy, Cafe 33 and Cote, all provide outdoor dining and they're going to be severely affected by this change.

"None of the businesses along here were given any prior warning such as a letter - not even a phone call - to tell us what was going on.

"In fact, it felt like we were the last people to know about the change - there was no consideration for us."

The decision to reopen Exchange Street was taken by Mr Plant alone after he decided to scrap a committee which had met to discuss Norwich road schemes (Image: Newsquest)