The councillor who has overseen years of controversial Norwich roadworks has defended the schemes, following criticism he has spent millions on a string of expensive projects which have achieved little.

Graham Plant hit back at accusations that changes like the Heartsease roundabout revamp and overhaul of St Stephen's Street have tinkered with, rather than transformed the city, despite months of disruption and huge cost.

Norwich Evening News: The new-look Heartsease RoundaboutThe new-look Heartsease Roundabout (Image: Newsquest)

Those schemes, along with other projects such as alterations to Tombland, Boundary Road, the area around Norwich Railway Station and Colman Road, were paid for with £32m from the government's Transforming Cities Fund.

Work first began in 2020, with the £4.4m Heartsease revamp the most recent to be completed, after months of construction overran.

Norwich Evening News: Mike Sands, Labour county councillor for BowthorpeMike Sands, Labour county councillor for Bowthorpe (Image: Archant)

But Mike Sands, Labour county councillor for Bowthorpe, said the spending had not resulted in sufficiently substantial changes.

He said: "The Transport for Norwich schemes, paid for by the Transforming Cities fund, that helped create the recent deluge of disruption roadworks in Norwich, has brought some improvements.

"But Transforming Cities funding was intended to be transformational. How has the cabinet member transformed transport in Norwich rather than just a few expensive changes?"

Norwich Evening News: Graham Plant, Norfolk County Council cabinet member for highways, infrastructure and transportGraham Plant, Norfolk County Council cabinet member for highways, infrastructure and transport (Image: Norfolk County Council)

Mr Plant, Norfolk County Council's cabinet member for highways, transport and infrastructure, hit back.

He insisted the work had been "transformational" and had made "significant improvements across Norwich".

He said: "Highlights include the recently completed Heartsease roundabout scheme.

"That has transformed that area of the city for people who walk and cycle by making it safer and  much easier to navigate, something that has been needed for many, many years.

Norwich Evening News: St Stephens Street in NorwichSt Stephens Street in Norwich (Image: Sonya Duncan)

"The transformation of St Stephens Street with the introduction of sawtooth bus stops has enabled passengers to experience a better waiting environment and has reduced delays to buses.

"Tombland has been reinvigorated with outdoor seating areas and a reduction of the dominance of vehicular traffic."

And Mr Plant said savings on bus journey times, thanks to improvement work, had unlocked investment in zero emission buses.

Norwich Evening News: The Heartsease RoundaboutThe Heartsease Roundabout (Image: Mike Page)

Last year, Mr Plant sparked controversy when he scrapped the Transport for Norwich advisory committee, which debated Norwich transport schemes publicly, in favour of a group meeting behind closed doors.

Mr Plant said it would make it "easier" for him to make decisions.

A previous meeting was abandoned when Labour councillors, including Mr Sands, staged a protest walkout over the way it was being run.