New parking charges to have massive impact on drivers near popular football stadium on game day

New parking rules are set to be introduced across a major UK city preventing drivers from parking near an iconic football stadium.

Norwich City Council has revealed it will introduce new parking restrictions near the city’s famed Carrow Road stadium.

The new changes will impact parking near Geoffrey Watling Way, a popular spot for football fans to use on game days, and will come into force despite numerous objections from people living nearby.

The council will introduce timed parking bays and a designated loading bay, both of which have already been constructed.

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Officers at County Hall told Norwich Evening News that the measures would help “prevent obstructive and inappropriate parking” along the road.

They added: “This will maintain a safe and regulated flow of traffic and ensure safe, unobstructed movement for emergency vehicles. This will also improve the safety of pedestrians, cyclists and all highway users accessing the area.”

Under the enforcement, the parking bays will allow drivers to park for a maximum of one hour between 8am and 6.30pm, while the loading bay allows a 30-minute wait, with no return for an hour.

The council explained that Norfolk Constabulary and the planning department at Norwich City Council have all backed the changes.

Officers said when the order was formally advertised in the summer, it received support from “many residents of the flats on Geoffrey Watling Way”.

But one person objecting to the changes saying: “There will be nowhere for residents to park. I need my car for work.”

Another person claimed: “The reason residents park along Geoffrey Watling Way in the first place is because the private car parks under each flat building are full and have no more capacity.”

Since October 2024, part of Lower Clarence Road in Norwich has held trial closures for parking during match days, but since the New Year, these measures have been made permanent.

Graham Plant, Norfolk County Council’s cabinet member for highways, transport and infrastructure explained that he will use his powers to agree to the traffic regulation order.

Officers added: “The proposal will enable away coaches to have a set area to park and this will help with the management of away fans as they walk between the coach park and the football ground.

“This will improve safety for all highway users, including pedestrians and cyclists.”

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