Cromer's new town-centre pedestrian crossing has left residents and visitors feeling baffled, bothered, bewildered – and very underwhelmed.

After two weeks of town-centre disruption during its installation – involving a road closure, diversions, a reversed one-way system and parking restrictions – the new £16,000 crossing has finally been unveiled, at the junction of Mount and Church streets.

The 'informal' crossing consists of a strip of asphalt mixed with red chippings, bounded by paving slabs.

'Is that it? I can't believe it,' said passer-by Roy Jennings, of Sutherland Court Gardens, Cromer. 'It's not worth all the hassle and cost. Why is that safer?'

Sharon Iwanczyk, from Dereham, who was visiting Cromer with her young family, used the crossing, pushing a buggy, without realising it was there.

'There's nothing there to tell you – no lights or stripes. I drove over it this morning and didn't notice it then either. I was looking at the car in front of me, not the road surface,' she said.

Rachel Sidell, receptionist at nearby Merchant's Place, did not believe the work was finished: 'If they leave it like that, it's an accident waiting to happen,' she said.

Motorists turning into Mount Street seemed equally confused. A few gallantly stopped to let pedestrians cross, others ploughed on regardless.

Emma Askew, owner of The Rose Garden florist, on Mount Street, said the crossing was a 'total and utter waste of money'.

She added: 'They might as well have painted a couple of white lines on the road.'

Danny Hickling, owner of the nearby Little Gems rock and crystal shop, was angry at the length of time the work had taken, deterring shoppers from visiting his business which had only taken £1 on one day.

Cromer Town Council paid £4,000 towards the crossing but mayor David Pritchard said he wanted an urgent meeting with Norfolk County Council highways officers as he was 'equally disappointed' with the outcome.

A county council spokesman said informal crossings were used to raise awareness to vehicles of a crossing point for pedestrians but there was no formal right of way.

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