People living in Fiddlewood Road - a quiet street near Catton Park - say Norfolk County Council gave them no warning that the bus stops, each roughly 75.5 feet long, would be crammed into the area.

They say that instead of being able to park their cars outside their homes they are being forced to find alternative spots after workmen suddenly started painting yellow lines on the road last week.

The street already has three stops for the 21A bus, and neighbours added these are barely used.

Michelle Wilson, who lives directly opposite the new bus stops, said: "We weren't consulted by the council at all.

"They are like the size of city centre bus stops.

The yellow boxes are roughly 75.5 feet long (Image: Emily-Rose Thompson)

"From my house, I can walk to six bus stops to use the 21A bus.

"The other stops don't have massive yellow boxes.

Michelle Wilson (Image: Emily-Rose Thompson)

There are now five bus stops in the street (Image: Emily-Rose Thompson)

"It has cut our parking down dramatically.

"On February 20, yellow lines suddenly appeared on the path outside my house.

"Then on February 23, building men arrived to start digging up the pavement.

"I refused to move my car when they arrived.

"There will also be a drop-down curb right outside my house.

The drop-down curb will be installed directly outside Ms Wilson's home (Image: Emily-Rose Thompson)

Workmen arrived last week and started digging up the pavement (Image: Emily-Rose Thompson)

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"It's a small road, it takes no more than three minutes to walk to the end of the street. I hardly ever see my neighbours because they are usually at work and don't use the bus stops.

"Why has the council decided to spend thousands of pounds on bus stops that weren't needed?"

Mary and Ray Sadd, who have lived in the area for 30 years, believe the bus stops will cause congestion and further collisions in the area.

Ray and Mary Sudd, who live slightly further away from the bus stops (Image: Emily-Rose Thompson)

Ms Sadd said: “People use the road as a racing track.

“The other bus stops are okay because they’re spread out.

“An ambulance or fire engine wouldn’t get through if there were two buses.

“The drop-down curbs are good and ensure people who have disabilities can use public transport.

“Sometimes my husband gets on the bus using a wheelchair.

“But regardless, we didn’t even get a letter, we should have been warned."

A neighbour, who did not wish to be named and has lived in the area since 2019, said: “My biggest concern is the safety risk.

“The road already has a blind bend and I have witnessed several car accidents throughout my years of living here.

"The new bus stops raise the risk of further incidents and damage to cars.

"It poses a danger to the people living here and children who play outside nearby.

"I believe the decision has been poorly considered."

Norfolk County Council has spent £18,000 on the scheme using money from the Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP), which is government-funded.

A spokesman from the council said: "We have been made aware of some issues and concerns from residents regarding the positioning of the dropped kerb for this scheme.

"Our locality team is currently reviewing this to see if there is an option to move it.

"During the Covid pandemic the local bus service was stopped.

"These stops have been created following requests from residents in the area."

But, Steve Morphew, leader of the Labour group at Norfolk County Council, is "disappointed" the council did not consult neighbours about the work.

Steve Morphew, leader of the Labour group at Norfolk County Council (Image: Denise Bradley)

He said: "The county council are not legally required to consult when schemes like this are introduced, but it is standard practice out of courtesy and to try to accommodate any concerns raised.

"That should have happened.

"I have taken up the matter with highway officers and have urged them to speak to concerned residents and address the issues they have with the scheme."

© Norwich Evening News