Costessey Town Council installed the barrier across a pedestrian and cycle lane at a park in Fairway in Queen’s Hills to allow large maintenance vehicles through without creating an access point for cars to park there.
But neighbours at the estate say dog-walkers, cyclists and people with mobility aids now have to navigate through a side entrance which, during the winter, will become muddy.
The controversial new gate at the park area of Fairway at Queen’s Hills (Image: Denise Bradley)
The town council took on the task to install the gate, using funds from a S106 contribution which developers have to pay, since it is in the process of having ownership of the land transferred to it from South Norfolk Council.
But the ownership process has not been completed yet and the district council says it is working with the council to have the gate removed.
The new gate has left neighbours living on Fairway angry at the “waste of money” to have the gate installed only for it then to be removed.
‘What is the point?’
Gediminas Karvelis, a cyclist who uses the path and has lived at the estate for the last two years, said: “It’s a waste of money. It’s pointless and I don’t know why they did it. It makes no sense and it’s not helpful at all.”
Gediminas Karvelis has lived at Queen’s Hills for two years (Image: Denise Bradley)
Arman De Guzman, whose daughter Jia often cycles to the path, said: “It just blocks the cyclists. My little girl often goes to the park to ride her bike and it just blocks her way.”
Others say the gate itself is an eyesore because of its “big steel” aesthetic, which is not in keeping with the wild setting of the park.
Arman De Guzman and his daughter, six-year-old Jia (Image: Denise Bradley)
Steve Suwali, who has lived at the estate for the last eight years, said: “It’s a bit of an eyesore. It’s a big steel gate. I understand the intention, it just was not thought through.”
Steve Suwali has dubbed the gate an “eyesore” (Image: Denise Bradley)
Gary Blundell, Independent councillor for South Norfolk, said: “While a narrow gap has been left beside the gate, which is currently wide enough for a wheelchair to pass through, this is only practical during the current dry weather.
“During the winter months it is likely to become a muddy, unmade route, reducing accessibility and potentially failing to meet the standards expected under accessibility legislation.
“In addition, installing a locked metal gate directly across a designated pedestrian and cycle route undermines its purpose.
“Routes such as these are intended to provide safe, convenient access for cyclists, including children and pedestrians. Creating a barrier that requires users to divert around it significantly reduces the usefulness of the path.”
‘Attempting to remove the gate’
South Norfolk Council confirmed it owns the land where the gate has been installed and although it is in the process of transferring the land to the town council, this has not yet happened.
The park area in Fairway at Queens Hills (Image: Denise Bradley)
A spokesman for the district council said: “We are now attempting to work with the town council to have the gate removed.”
Chairman for the town council, Terry Laidlaw, explained the gate was put in to allow larger tractors through to maintain the park without creating an access for cars.
What is a S106 contribution?
Developments add pressure on roads, schools, parks, GP surgeries or community facilities.
So it help mitigate this impact, the local council can request a developer funds extra infrastructure, affordable homes, or other mitigations.
S106 can be used alongside tools like the Community Infrastructure Levy, but focuses on site‑specific impacts rather than general area-wide funding.
