Latest news with #NorfolkCountyCouncil
BBC News
3 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Contractors fined £685k for non-compliant Norfolk roadworks
A county council has issued fines totalling £685,000 in a year for non-compliant County Council said it issued 44,000 street and roadwork permits in 2024-25 to utility firms and it said it rejected 5,400 of 7,000 applications for unplanned emergency works, deeming them penalty notices totalling £340,000 were handed out for 2,809 repairs that did not have a permit or failed to comply with permit conditions. The remaining £345,000 was collected from 306 repair jobs which overran, causing a total of 1,317 additional days of disruption on the county's roads County Council said 74 utility companies had the legal right to undertake works on public highways, and as such its powers "remain limited under national legislation".But the council said it was "committed to holding companies accountable" and in the past 12 months it successfully prosecuted two utility companies where a court imposed fines totalling almost £100,000, with full costs Plant, cabinet member for highways, infrastructure and transport said: "We are doing everything within our power to manage the impact of roadworks on Norfolk's communities."But the reality is that we don't have the authority to stop or delay many of these works. "Utility companies have a legal right to dig up our roads, and in emergency cases, they can start work before even notifying us. "While this lack of control makes it incredibly difficult to protect residents from disruption, we do hold third parties to account and will issue fines and reject permits when we need to." Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Council's 'cash cam' has raked in £300,000 in fines in just TWO months
A council has made a whopping £300k in fines from a controversial new bus lane camera in just two-and-a-half-months. The 'cash cam' on Dereham Road, in Norwich, Norfolk, has already caught more than 10k drivers in a little over ten weeks. This has triggered more fines for motorists in the short space of time than last year's tally from all the other city bus lane cameras combined. The large number of drivers caught on the camera has sparked a row over whether the new installation is solving a problem or causing one. Motoring organisation the RAC called for Norfolk County Council to carry out a review of the camera, while some drivers say signs and road markings are not clear enough. But council officials ruled out any review and said the high number of fines demonstrates how enforcement of the bus lane, which has been there for more than 15 years, was needed. A council spokesman said: 'It is usual to have a spike at the start of when an enforcement camera goes live and although the numbers were higher than we expected to begin with, we always anticipated the rate would slow, which we have now seen. 'This indicates the decision to enforce at this location is justified, as it clearly shows there has been an issue of non-compliance, which we are tackling to ensure the network is kept moving and safe for all users.' One motorist caught by the camera said: 'The lines which should clearly be visible to show the end of the bus lane, with arrows showing you can come over, are practically none existing. 'This is nothing but a cash cam placed at the most unclear white lines markings.' RAC head of policy Simon Williams urged the council to carry out a review. He said: 'Most drivers don't set out to get fined by driving in a bus lane, so when cameras generate frightening sums of money it's usually because the signage isn't clear enough. 'While the signage may meet the recommended government guidance, the fact so many drivers are being caught out implies it isn't as good as it could be. 'We urge Norfolk County Council to be fair on drivers by investigating the cause and taking any necessary action.' The council has said the camera has been correctly implemented and says unsuccessful appeals confirm that. The council says the money raised from fines is used to 'offset the costs of running the enforcement service, with any surplus reinvested into highways and transport services in Norfolk'. The new camera has surpassed the tally from all the other city bus lane cameras combined In 2024, bus lanes were revealed to be a 'huge money spinner' for local councils, making up to £80 million a year. According to the data £50 million was made in London alone while motorists in other major British cities were also hit hard in 2022-2023. AA spokesman Luke Bosdet said: 'Bus lanes are a huge money-spinner for many local authorities that enforce them. The cameras that monitor them haul in fines on an industrial scale.' AA analysis of Department for Transport statistics shows English local authorities generated a combined £127.3 million in revenue from fining motorists for driving in bus lanes when not allowed during the 2022/23 financial year. Taking £47.7 million of costs into account, this resulted in a total surplus of £79.6 million.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
1,500-year-old pendant discovered in secret Norfolk location
A piece of early medieval jewellery that laid buried for almost 1,500 years has been declared an official treasure. Discovered by a metal detectorist, the 7th-century oval pendant consisting of gold and a cabochon garnet was found in north Norfolk during October last year. A treasure inquest held at Norfolk Coroner's Court heard that the piece is 'relatively small but beautifully made'. A gold and garnet pendant found in north Norfolk last year (Image: Norfolk County Council) Made sometime between c600AD and c700AD, it is an example of a well-known pendant type of that era. Its inspiration comes from Hellenistic jewellery, which is said to have a very classical, restrained appearance. The Hellenistic period, spanning from 323 BC to 30 BC, marked a significant era in ancient history and was characterised by the spread of Greek culture across a vast empire established by Alexander the Great. The pendant itself is constructed on a gold backplate, which has a border of thick beaded wire, flanked by a pair of slim plain wires, around the edge. The beading has been made with a swage or "beading file" - a tool which probably had a single groove flanked by teeth. On the reverse, the backplate is dented and hollowed in the centre. The gem is a very neatly shaped and highly polished cabochon which, although very dark, appears reddish. Dr Helen Geake (Image: Newsquest) A report from archaeologist Helen Geake, the county's finds liaison officer, was read to the court, based at County Hall in Norwich. In it, Dr Geake said the gem was 'probably a garnet'. It total, the piece weighs 1.90g, which is around the same weight of a pomegranate. The latest figures from the Ministry of Justice show there were 132 treasure finds declared to coroners in 2024 in Norfolk. This was more than the year before, when there were 95.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Driving course refresher set up for over-60s
A new initiative to help older drivers stay on the road and increase their confidence has been introduced. The Gold course by Norfolk County Council is designed for motorists over the age of 60 and lasts about 60 minutes. The local authority's road safety team collaborated with Norfolk Police, the local fire service and ambulance service. Fran Whymark, Conservative cabinet member for public health, said: "It's not about losing people's licence; it's about keeping people on the road and keeping them safe." Drivers signed up to the course take the test in their own vehicle and council road safety officer Andrew Sykes said it enabled the assessor to give an objective view on their driving. "It's really not a driving test by any means - it's just an observed drive with a few hints and tips along the way," said Mr Sykes. Whymark took the course himself and admitted his driving had changed since passing his test 40 years ago. "I'm a bit older so your eyesight deteriorates, your mobility deteriorates... it's about keeping yourself safe and keeping yourself on the road. "Most people just need to tidy up a few items when they are driving." Rebecca Guy, from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents charity, pointed out there was other support and training available for veteran drivers. Motorists aged over 70 have to renew their driving licence every three years with the DVLA. Two coroners have recently recommended that the licensing system is tightened up following fatal accidents caused by older drivers. HM Senior Coroner for Lancashire Dr James Adeley pointed out the UK was one of only three countries to rely upon self-reporting of visual conditions affecting driving. Meanwhile, assistant coroner for Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Beth Brown said older drivers with "compromised" ability may cause further deaths. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Call for drivers over 65 to have regular reviews Concerns about older drivers rising, figures suggest Norfolk County Council Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency RoSPA
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Driving course refresher set up for over-60s
A new initiative to help older drivers stay on the road and increase their confidence has been introduced. The Gold course by Norfolk County Council is designed for motorists over the age of 60 and lasts about 60 minutes. The local authority's road safety team collaborated with Norfolk Police, the local fire service and ambulance service. Fran Whymark, Conservative cabinet member for public health, said: "It's not about losing people's licence; it's about keeping people on the road and keeping them safe." Drivers signed up to the course take the test in their own vehicle and council road safety officer Andrew Sykes said it enabled the assessor to give an objective view on their driving. "It's really not a driving test by any means - it's just an observed drive with a few hints and tips along the way," said Mr Sykes. Whymark took the course himself and admitted his driving had changed since passing his test 40 years ago. "I'm a bit older so your eyesight deteriorates, your mobility deteriorates... it's about keeping yourself safe and keeping yourself on the road. "Most people just need to tidy up a few items when they are driving." Rebecca Guy, from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents charity, pointed out there was other support and training available for veteran drivers. Motorists aged over 70 have to renew their driving licence every three years with the DVLA. Two coroners have recently recommended that the licensing system is tightened up following fatal accidents caused by older drivers. HM Senior Coroner for Lancashire Dr James Adeley pointed out the UK was one of only three countries to rely upon self-reporting of visual conditions affecting driving. Meanwhile, assistant coroner for Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Beth Brown said older drivers with "compromised" ability may cause further deaths. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Call for drivers over 65 to have regular reviews Concerns about older drivers rising, figures suggest Norfolk County Council Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency RoSPA
