The controversy over whether lorries should be given special permission to go into a bus and cycle lane has taken a new twist after the city council decided to oppose the proposal.

Norfolk County Council has teamed up with Foulger Transport for a six-month experiment which would see lorries which usually rumble into Norwich stop at Snetterton and split loads onto fully loaded low emission vehicles which would deliver into the city.

The county council hoped by allowing those low emissions lorries to use the bus and cycle lane in Newmarket Road it would encourage companies to sign up for the scheme.

But the move sparked anger, with critics claiming it would put the lives of cyclists at risk and undermine the city's efforts to encourage people to use their bikes.

Earlier this month campaigners handed in a 500 signature petition and the plans were put on hold until May so further consultation can take place.

And at a meeting of Norwich City Council this week Judith Lubbock, Liberal Democrat councillor for Eaton, successfully tabled a motion for the city council to call on the Norwich Highways Agency Committee, which is made up of county and city councillors, to oppose the scheme.

Mrs Lubbock, herself a member of the highways committee, said: “I just hope that our representatives on the Joint Highways committee on May 22 respect this decision and vote against it.

“It is just not consistent with sustainability. We should be doing all we can to encourage cycling not discourage it.

“I handed a 500 signature petition to the Joint Highways committee last Thursday and at that meeting it was decided that the six month experiment had been delayed until after May, so I thought it was an opportunity to get the city councillors behind the decision to oppose any such scheme.”

The Liberal Democrats were joined by the Greens and the Conservative councillors to oppose the scheme while the Labour Councillors abstained on the motion.

Simon Wright, Norwich South parliamentary spokesman for the Liberal Democrats said he hoped the county council would now shelve the scheme.

He said: “The few minute advantage that would be given to the HGVs in using the bus and cycle lane is just not worth the possible injury or death of a cyclist.

“I am pleased that the city council has come out firmly to oppose such a scheme, now it's down largely to the public to convince the county council to drop the idea.

“I would urge people to write opposing the scheme to David Sprunt the officer at the county council dealing with it or to county councillor Adrian Gunson.”

Mr Gunson, Norfolk County Council's cabinet member for planning and transportation, said the move would see just five lorries a day using the lane - removing some 25 other HGVs from city roads.

He said: “On urban roads the main risk to cyclists from HGVs is at junctions, but the bus lanes end before junctions. Replacing five vehicles with one is therefore a big plus in terms of safety for cyclists in the city.

“In addition, the vehicles from Snetterton will be driven by drivers from one company, trained in the considerate and safe use of the bus and cycle lane.”

Do you think the lorries should be permitted in the cycle and bus lane? Write to Evening News Letters, Prospect House, Rouen Road, Norwich NR1 1RE or email eveningnewsletters@archant.co.uk