Caister Parish Council says villagers and bus drivers have raised serious concerns about the safety of the revamped junction at Prince of Wales Road despite Persimmon Homes and Norfolk County Council insisting it meets all required standards.

People have also questioned the width of a new shared cycle and footway, and the lack of safety barriers at the Norwich Road roundabout, described as the busiest junction in Caister.

The council has criticised Persimmon for destroying a wildflower area at the entrance to the village, digging up long-standing daffodil plantings and damaging planters without speaking to anyone locally beforehand.

Rubbish on a roadside in Caister. (Image: Caister Parish Council)

"It shows a lack of respect for our village," the council said. "Many will remember a young man lost his life at this junction so it is important that safety is paramount."

The row follows anger over an earlier scheme on Ormesby Road, which was meant to discourage drivers from using the village as a cut-through.

The parish council has branded those measures "a complete failure," saying speeding continues and one bus pull-in had to be redesigned after installation.

Persimmon Homes and Norfolk County Council are upgrading roads in Caister. (Image: Caister Parish Council)

A spokesperson for Persimmon Homes Anglia said the company had “worked closely” with the county council to deliver a series of highway upgrades and pedestrian improvements in Caister which “fully accords with our planning permission”.

“Every stage has been inspected and signed off to ensure the upgrades meet the required design and safety standards,” they said.

“It is important to recognise that we are in the middle of construction works and therefore comments about the look and appearance of parts of the scheme are premature."

Norfolk County Council said the scheme was designed to discourage through-traffic, with a full safety audit to follow once construction is finished.

Persimmon is due to attend the parish council's March meeting.

© Eastern Daily Press