The county councillor who first mooted the possibility of 20-minute neighbourhoods in Norfolk has said she was motivated by a desire to make life easier for people - not to restrict where people can go.
And, in the wake of previous and planned protests about the concept, Norfolk County Council has published an explanation of why it is looking into the concept - and what it could entail.
Conservative county councillor Lana Hempsall said she had been surprised at the opposition triggered by her call for the council to explore trialling a number of 20-minute neighbourhoods in rural and urban areas of Norfolk.
Her motion was agreed by 48 votes at a meeting in December.
The thinking behind 20-minute neighbourhoods is to plan developments so people can get to key services, such as healthcare, schools, parks and shops selling fresh food, with no need to get in a car.
But some critics - amid growing internet claims about the concept - believe that is a precursor to people needing to have permits to make car journeys and 'climate lockdowns', with people forced to stay in their homes to protect the environment.
At the end of last month, about 200 demonstrators went to a Thetford Town Council meeting to protest about the idea and a public meeting has been organised in the town for later this month.
However, Mrs Hempsall insisted there was no intention to restrict anybody's movement and that she had put forward the idea partly to help people with disabilities get around.
She said: "To say the opposition caught me by surprise is the understatement of the year."
Mrs Hempsall, who is registered blind, said she had first come across the idea while taking part in a panel discussing access for disabled people.
She said: "It was really obvious that this would clearly support disabled people, because it's much easier for them if they can get to and from where they need to go within 20 minutes.
"Because I am severely sight impaired, having my independence is massively important to me.
"Living where I do, in Acle, I am in a place where I can get to services and back within 20 minutes, which means I don't have to rely on taxis or my husband.
"It was that sort of thing I had in mind as a 20-minute neighbourhood. This certainly isn't about restricting where people can go or them needing to have permits to drive.
"We have places like Acle, Hoveton and Wroxham, Brundall and Aylsham, where they are really 20-minute neighbourhoods already and I just wanted to see if we could build on that and maybe give them some protection when it comes to future development.
"This is not about restricting car journeys. It's about enabling more people to have the choice of getting out of their cars to be able to get to places."
The county council has set up a page on its website about the issue. It states the authority is working with other organisations and councils to review the evidence and potential benefits of trialling a number of 20-minute neighbourhoods in rural and urban areas.
It stressed: "No decisions have been taken at this stage on when and where this could happen. If proposals are identified for a specific area where this approach could be considered, we will consult with those in that area to seek their views."
The council said nothing is being imposed, but it is a "principle that can be considered for existing and future developments, with the focus on creating neighbourhoods that are accessible to everyone and where people are not locked into car dependency."
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