Campaigners fight for pedestrian access to ROARR! in Lenwade

Locals in Lenwade are campaigning for a new pathway to ROARR! adventure park as they say unsuitable access is forcing pedestrians to walk along a main road.

Dean Bailey has launched his own YouTube channel, called Dinsoaur Danger, to record activity on the B1535 as families are narrowly missed by cars and lorries. 

He has criticised local councils for allowing the expansion of ROARR! in recent years without building a new route to the park, and uses his channel to refute claims that only a handful of visitors travel to the attraction by foot. 

He said: "This is a very busy road and there are families walking straight down the middle of it while trucks go flying past.

"I have seen so many accidents and it's only a matter of time before someone is killed."

Dean Bailey pictured in 2016 alongside former chairwoman of Great Witchingham Parish Council, Susan Rowles (Image: Ian Burt) PARK EXPANSION

Dinosaur-themed adventure park ROARR! in Lenwade was given planning permission to expand by 25pc and bring in an extra 200,000 visitors a year by Broadland Council in 2022.

Those travelling by foot or public transport are currently required to walk along the B1353 to reach the attraction, with buses from the city dropping passengers in Norwich Road. 

Adam Goymour, park director at ROARR! (Image: Denise Bradley) While Norfolk County Council had previously suggested a pathway could be built through Royal Norwich Golf Club to improve access to ROARR! following its expansion, an agreement was not reached with the landowners and this idea was scrapped. 

Peter Bulman, who represents the area at Broadland Council, said: "It's very much needed but no one seems to want to fund it. I've argued quite vociferously for this over the years.

"We're at an impasse because this is a private enterprise and should not be subsidised by the public purse, but no one wants to cough up the money or give up their land."

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The entrance to ROARR! adventure park (Image: Denise Bradley) DINOSAUR DANGER

Mr Bailey, a former parish councillor in the area, set up his YouTube channel to highlight the number of visitors who walk along the road. 

His recordings span the last few years and show families walking alongside fast-flowing traffic as well as accidents near the attraction. 

He said: "The park has expanded and expanded and no one is interested in fixing these safety issues. 

"It is a blatant lie that not many people walk along the road, nothing has been done and this isn't good enough. 

"I see accidents all the time and there will be a fatality if no action is taken."

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He raised particular concerns about the upcoming PrimEvil 'scream park' returning to the attraction from October 17. This is set to bring in hundreds of extra visitors who will be travelling on increasingly darker evenings. 

Representatives for ROARR! declined to comment on the issue. 

WHAT NOW? 

Norfolk County Council carried out improvement works on the B1535 last year, but this was only a maintenance scheme and involved adjustments to line markings. 

There are currently no plans to build a new pathway to the attraction.

Traffic on the B1535 (Image: Denise Bradley) A spokesman said: "We sought to secure a footway between Norwich Road and the dinosaur park in 2022, but that was not possible as it would have required land owned by others. 

"Our safety team continuously reviews accident records and will suggest improvements to roads based on this data and according to priorities and funding. 

"We will continue to monitor the situation, at this site and across the county, and will take further action as required. Safety on our roads is a priority."