Unthank Road carnage after removal of double yellow lines
This was the mysterious case of the missing double yellow lines.
And it sparked weeks of “chaos” on a busy city street with cars dumped on sidewalks and businesses missing vital deliveries.
When Norfolk County Council resurfaced Unthank Road two weeks ago, the double yellow lines that prevented cars from parking on either side were gone.
The blunder led to pedestrians nervously wandering the road and other vehicles blocking traffic.
Residents said the move created “free parking for all” with traffic struggling to pass – especially near the row of stores off Cambridge Street.
But after being under the pressure of the Evening newspaper the lines reappeared yesterday afternoon – well almost. The workers were unable to move some vehicles and therefore had to leave spaces!
Speaking before the rushed paint job, Elizabeths the Florist owner Kevin Plumstead said his company was unable to deliver flowers in time for the funeral because people had blocked his vans, adding that it was “chaos”.
“Someone is going to be run over before long,” Mr Plumstead said.
âBy law, cars should not be parked here because the sidewalk has been abandoned.
“Why re-surf the road and not have guys set aside to do the lines a week later? This is mismanagement.”
Mr Plumstead said there was no room for his 20 employees to park.
And the large vehicles parked all day also made businesses nervous on behalf of pedestrians walking the narrow sidewalk.
Jim Smith, operations manager of the Adnams store in Unthank Road, described the situation as “dangerous” and the worst he has ever seen.
Mr Smith added: “It’s like a blind spot because you can’t see past parked vehicles when trying to get around them.
“If you know the area, you would know not to park here. It’s just not safe.”
The red-faced departmental council did not comment.
“People were almost fighting”
Adrian Humphries, who runs bespoke kitchen business The Annex, said parking has become more of an issue.
“It’s a double-edged sword because it’s good that there are a lot of people here, but I want people to park properly,” Humphries said Friday morning before the lines reappeared.
“I can’t believe they haven’t put the yellow lines back on. If you come here on a Sunday, people are parked here all day. The buses can’t pass.”
Mr Humphries said he spent £ 3,500 to lower his sidewalk but his forecourt was blocked off.
He added that some drivers were so frustrated that many quarrels had broken out.
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