Bus stops along a main route to the university have received long-awaited signs after being left forgotten and "ghost-like" for nearly five years. 

The stops, located in Earlham Road and Colman Road near the UEA, are listed on First Bus' 26 and 26A routes but until now have been without signs to indicate they are official stops.  

The lack of signage meant that bus drivers would often not drop off or pick up passengers at the bus stops, causing frustration for locals.

Councillors raised the issue of missing signage with the County Council as early as 2019Councillors raised the issue of missing signage with the County Council as early as 2019 (Image: Matthew Reilly) Norfolk County Council is in charge of furnishing the bus stops and its own website states that all should be marked with a pole and a "Bus Stop" flag as a minimum.

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Brenda Arthur, former Labour leader of Norwich City Council, first raised concerns about this in 2019 and Matt Reilly, councillor for the University ward, took the issue to the cabinet member for transport, Graham Plant, in January 2023.

Locals were left in the lurch when bus drivers failed to stopLocals were left in the lurch when bus drivers failed to stop (Image: Matthew Reilly) The issue was not readdressed until this time last year when a County Hall spokesman said it was being "dealt with by the relevant parties", but councillors were appalled by how long it had taken. 

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Months of campaigning resulted in poles and flags being installed at all three "ghost" stops, much to the relief of Brenda, Matt and the locals. 

"I am delighted that at long last we have got the signage in place at these important bus stops," Cllr Reilly said. 

Poles and signage have since been installed at the three ghost stopsPoles and signage have since been installed at the three ghost stops (Image: Matthew Reilly) "It beggars belief that it took 11 emails from me raising and chasing this issue for the County Council to fulfil its basic obligations to residents."

Local Laura McCartney-Gray said: "I lost count of the number of times that buses wouldn't stop at these places but I'm pleased that the signage is finally in place.

"It's the least that people living in our community deserve."