Since the installation of the bus lane on the Cromer & Aylsham Roads in Norwich, there have been several road traffic collisions, numerous near accidents, reports of speeding taxis, buses not using the bus lane as they have to use half the lane from regular traffic as the bus lane isn't wide enough, buses mounting the pavement to enable buses to use the bus lane if regular traffic is queuing in their designated lane due to the bus lane not being wide enough; problems for vehicles turning into and out of side roads, problems for residents of Cromer & Aylsham Roads accessing their driveways, longer queues of traffic at the Boundary Junction, problems with the camber of the road and the new layout, problems with the signage which is misleading and causing confusion and the businesses along the Aylsham Road have seen a dramatic fall in trade as they have lost all of the on-street parking their patrons depend on.

There is no demonstrable need for this bus lane, it only saves 3 minutes on a journey into the city. Buses that serve Horsford and Hellesdon (First Buses numbers 36 & 37) do not use the Cromer Road section of this bus lane so residents of Hellesdon are suffering great inconvenience to their daily lives for no benefit to them at all.

The residents and businesses affected engaged fully with Norfolk County Council when this bus lane was consulted on and over 450 responses against the bus lane were received.

There is no need for this bus lane to operate 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.

Councillor Shelagh Gurney and myself, Councillor Lacey Douglass, are calling for the operating hours to be Monday to Saturday 7.30 am to 9.30 am only.

This will allow for the smooth running of one of the main roads into Norwich during the day, a safer environment for residents to use whether in their own vehicles or on foot, and for the businesses affected to retain the on-street parking they and their customers rely on, customers who are often elderly and with mobility issues.

Other bus lanes in Norwich operate part time (Sprowston Road, Earlham Road) and the Cromer Road & Aylsham Road bus lanes must operate part time too.

Please sign this petition in order for us to present the case for this bus lane to operate during peak times only to the Leader of Norfolk County Council, Councillor Andrew Proctor and Cabinet Member for Transport and Highways Councillor Martin Wilby.

Thank you, Cllr Shelagh Gurney & Cllr Lacey Douglass