Transport bosses are being encouraged to protect the city's heritage by adopting new designs for a £1.45m road project.

Norwich City Council hopes to ease congestion and speed up bus journeys by making Chapel Field North two-way and preventing general traffic using St Stephens Street and part of Surrey Street.

But campaigners today unveiled two alternate plans for Chapel Field North after raising concerns about the impact the proposals will have on the street and Chapelfield Park.

One focuses on making Chapel Field North one-way between its junctions with Grapes Hill and Little Bethel Street, allowing traffic to travel towards the city centre.

These vehicles could then access Theatre Street, Rampant Horse Street and leave the city centre via Westlegate.

Lower Bethel Street would be closed to traffic.

The second plan would only allow traffic to leave Chapel Field North travelling east away from the city centre into Grapes Hill. Vehicles would also be directed in a one-way loop heading in to the city centre via St Giles Street and out via Bethel Street.

Council officials believe the existing designs will benefit the Chapel Field North area and have been consulted on fully.

Anthony Barnes, 81, of Bethel Street, who designed the alternate new route, said: 'What we are saying is think of the heritage of the city. It's not an appropriate place to put a lot of heavy and large vehicles and, having accepted that, rethink the logic of all the rest of your plans.'

The group continued collecting signatures for their petition in The Forum today.

Mary O'Brien, of Little Bethel Street, said: 'It's about making the council have a change of heart. The campaign is about the sacrificing of a little road that's so beautiful and historic.'

The Norwich Highways Agency Committee is due to discuss the project on January 24 at City Hall.