Norfolk County Council's transport development plans for Attleborough have been influenced by public consultations in the area.

Earlier this year, in July and August, the council held public consultations, developing inital proposals concerning how best to spend the £4.5 million Local Growth Fund (LGF).

Attleborough is in the midst of a huge expansion, with more than 4,500 new homes due to be built over the next 20 years, and the LGF has been granted to help facilitate the development of infrastructure to support the town's growth.

At the Transport for Attleborough public consultations, which 111 of the townspeople attended, a number of key priorities and problems were raised that will directly impact how the LGF is spent.

Surrogate Street was highlighted as a point of concern in terms of potential congestion, with 71% voting to convert the street in to a two-way road in order to improve traffic flow. This project will be the first of many to get under way early in the new year.

The consultations also underscored the importance of parking in the town centre, and consequently, Queen's Square car park and the railway station will have their capacities increased in 2018.

A proportion of the LGF will also be spent on improving pedestrianised ares of the town, with Queen Square seen as a priority, as well as sections of pavement on Surrogate Street and Church Street.

Rhodri Oliver, county councillor for Attleborough, believes the public consultations will result in the LGF being spent in such a way that benefits all of the townspeople.

He said: 'It was great to see so many people get involved. It's really important that the improvements to the town not only help to resolve current and anticipated transport issues, but also reflect the needs of local residents and businesses.

'The schemes local people have helped us prioritise should make the town easier to visit and get around, and help to make Attleborough safer and more pleasant for everyone.'

Councillor Martin Wilby, said: 'The consultations suggested people understood how these improvements will provide long term benefits for the town and those who live and work here.'