A-road works postponed after disruption complaints

The roundabout links the A47 with the villages of Brundall and Blofield

Upgrades to a major route on the outskirts of a city have been postponed after complaints about congestion caused by roadworks.

The A47 Yarmouth Road, to the east of Norwich, was due to be closed for a month from Monday to widen the approach to the roundabout at Brundall.

It would have coincided with an upgrade to the Thickthorn junction with the A11 - described as a "nightmare" by an MP - and the dualling of the A47 at Blofield.

Norfolk County Council said: "Due to current pressures on the surrounding road network, particularly in relation to the National Highways A47/A11 scheme, we have taken the decision to postpone these developer-funded works until further notice."

Work began on the Thickthorn Junction upgrade in September

The full closure of Yarmouth Road and Cucumber Lane, which was due to shut for 10 days from mid-December, would not go ahead, with Brundall bus services continuing as normal, it added.

The work, estimated to cost £315,000 and funded by a developer as a planning condition, would be rescheduled to later next year.

Speaking to the BBC last month, Jordan Holmes of Norwich Camping and Leisure in Blofield said he was concerned the roundabout work would effectively block both ends of his village.

It would have followed a closure of the turn-off to Blofield as part of the A47 upgrade, which he described as a "kick in the teeth" in the run-up to Christmas.

Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach managing director Albert Jones said he would have preferred the work to continue as it was a case of "no pain, no gain".

"I think the highways people should liaise with businesses about when they do this work as we've had a lot of disruption in the peak season.

"Long-term, nobody is going to regret these roads being improved."

The postponement follows South Norfolk Labour MP Ben Goldsborough accusing the relevant authorities of not speaking to each other over clashing schemes, including Thickthorn and the dualling of the A47 to the west and east of the city.

"Everything is being done all at once," he said.

A bus operator and a haulage boss also told BBC Radio Norfolk the disruption at Thickthorn had had a "major impact" on their business.