A call has been made for a leading county councillor to resign over his handling of transport issues - but he says he is going nowhere.

Graham Plant, Norfolk County Council's cabinet member for highways, infrastructure and transport, has come in for criticism recently over decisions such as re-opening Norwich's Exchange Street to traffic and scrapping a committee which met in public to discuss city traffic projects.

Eastern Daily Press: Exchange Street in NorwichExchange Street in Norwich (Image: Denise Bradley)

That sparked Green county councillor Paul Neale to call for Mr Plant to resign at meeting of the council's Conservative-controlled cabinet.

Eastern Daily Press: Green county councillor Paul NealeGreen county councillor Paul Neale (Image: Norwich Green Party)

Mr Neale said: "The cabinet member for highways continues to make one bad decision after another.

"He has decided to exclude the public and media from highways decisions, claiming it would
improve democracy and reversed the Exchange Street pedestrian and cycling-only scheme
because too many people broke the law.

"He also seems unable to provide definitive costs for the Norwich Western Link. Before his bizarre decision-making becomes a complete car crash, will he now resign?"

Eastern Daily Press: Graham Plant, Norfolk County Council cabinet member for highways, infrastructure and transportGraham Plant, Norfolk County Council cabinet member for highways, infrastructure and transport (Image: Newsquest)

But Mr Plant, said: "I don’t accept your opening remarks. I have taken action where action was needed to resolve ongoing issues.

"I have provided context where a situation was not straightforward, and I have responded appropriately by not confirming details before the work that would inform them has been completed.

"I take the responsibility of being a Norfolk County Council cabinet member very seriously, as I believe this shows, and it’s disappointing that Mr Neale is unable to see this.

"There is no basis whatsoever to call for my resignation and, to confirm, I intend to continue to work hard in this role and deliver good results for the people of Norfolk, which recently have included securing funding for 70 new electric buses, ongoing delivery of the £50m Bus Service Improvement Plan and Transforming Cities measures."

Eastern Daily Press: Norfolk County Council leader Kay Mason BilligNorfolk County Council leader Kay Mason Billig (Image: Norfolk County Council)

Mr Plant's decision not to continue an experimental closure of Exchange Street was discussed by the council's scrutiny committee last week, at which county council leader Kay Mason Billig said she had "100pc confidence" in Mr Plant and the decisions he had been making.