People living on an island near Norwich could be saved from having to pay £100 fines whenever they visit the mainland.

Eastern Daily Press: A map of Thorpe Island, located off Yarmouth Road in Thorpe St Andrew.A map of Thorpe Island, located off Yarmouth Road in Thorpe St Andrew. (Image: Archant)

Thorpe St Andrew Town Council will tonight consider amending the mooring rules at River Green, off Yarmouth Road.

It comes after Thorpe Island residents feared they would be fined for parking their dingies on the mainland across the River Yare.

But councillors will now decide whether or not to allocate a small space along River Green for the islanders.

A report, which will go before councillors this evening, states the island's landowner has requested for an extension of the commercial mooring area.

It would be used by both his service vessel and by smaller vessels.

The report states: 'For the sum of £500, it is proposed to provide a space the length of the service vessel to moor.

'When the boat is not at the moorings, the small boats will use this space. When the service vessel is moored, the small boats will be able to moor to this.'

In March this year, the town council agreed to introduce 24-hour mooring regulations along River Green.

Under the current rules, boat owners who stay in the area beyond 24 hours or return within 48 hours risk being issued with a charge.

But last month, people living on the eastern side of the island said it could leave them facing £100 fines when visit the mainland.

And they claimed that they had not been consulted on the changes made by the council.

But Thomas Foreman, town clerk, said he had made multiple attempts to contact landowner Roger Wood about the issue.

Since then, the report states the landowner had been in touch with his request for a commercial mooring extension.

He has also offered £500 to the council for the extension.

'Although this would reduce the amount of 'short stay' mooring space available, it would also reduce the number of smaller boats using the 'short stay' area and therefore not significantly impact on the space which would have been available,' the report said.

• Tonight's Thorpe St Andrew Town Council meeting takes place at Roxley Hall on Yarmouth Road at 7.30pm.