Busy Norwich City Centre pedestrian thoroughfare legally still open to cars
Hay Hill was supposed to have been pedestrianised in the 1970s.
For decades, it has been one of Norwich’s busiest thoroughfares, passed through by thousands on foot each day, many lugging heavy shopping bags.
But it seems pedestrians using the city’s Hay Hill could have saved themselves some of the effort.
In an extraordinary development, it has emerged the route has been technically open to motor vehicles for the last four decades.
Although it was converted into a pedestrian area in the 1970s, the legal paperwork to block traffic from using it was never completed, meaning it remains legal to drive through the square.
The loophole emerged as part of the recent multimillion pound makeover of the Hay Hill area and council officials are now scrambling to close it.
However, any motorists looking to make use of the phantom street before it becomes illegal will be disappointed.
Although they may be able to drive around the square, they cannot reach it without breaking other traffic regulations on all the routes leading to Hay Hill.
All that’s before they have to tackle the street furniture now covering the area.
Hay Hill is owned by Norwich City Council and the new legal process has been kick-started by the completion of a £3.2m regeneration project, including improved seating, better-designed steps and a fountain.
The county council is now scrambling to try close the loophole.
Officials have lodged their case with Norwich Magistrates’ Court to update the laws that govern use of the street.
A hearing is due to be held on December 4th to formalise the ban on cars.
Anyone wishing to object is able to challenge the proposals at the hearing.
While new bollards have recently appeared at Hay Hill, blocking access for vehicles, Norfolk County Council says these were installed as part of the overall revamp scheme to provide additional public safety – and are not related to the current legal process.
The statue of Sir Thomas Brown is one of its longest-standing features in the square, having watched over city folk for more than a century.