New seating and planters installed to protect Great Yarmouth's Portuguese artwork
Illegal parking has put the £25,000 hand-crafted paving at risk of damage
New benches and planters are being installed at Christchurch in Great Yarmouth in a bid to protect the country's only Portuguese paving installation from damage caused by illegally parked vehicles.
The hand-made artwork, which cost £25,000 to create, depicts King John I and Queen Phillippa of Portugal and covers fifty square metres of the piazza area on King Street.
Great Yarmouth Borough Council has secured £10,000 from the Government's Pride in Place programme to pay for the new seating and planting.
The council said unauthorised parking in the area remains a problem despite existing restrictions and enforcement.
Paving at risk from illegal parking
Local businesses have also complained about the issue.
Signage in the area has been damaged by vehicles parking illegally.
The new benches and planters are being fitted to create a more attractive space around the paving while also stopping vehicles from being able to park on it.
The design will be similar to the seating and planting already in place outside The Place in the Market Place, according to the council.
Council leader defends investment
Councillor Carl Smith, the leader of Great Yarmouth Borough Council, said the paving was created after the town's Reprezent Project secured government funding for Portuguese craftspeople to build it.
"The paving was the brainchild of the town's Reprezent Project and we were fortunate enough to secure Government funding to pay for it to be created by Portuguese craftspeople," Councillor Smith said.
"It is a hugely impressive reminder of our important cultural links with the Portuguese community and is something we are all enormously proud of.
It defies belief that thoughtless drivers would actually park on what is an important and unique piece of artwork, but sadly that is the case. "
Stones sourced directly from Portugal
Ruben Cruz, of Reprezent Project, said bringing the first Portuguese pavement to the UK had taken many months of planning.
"Helping to bring the first Portuguese pavement to the UK was a proud achievement for Reprezent and the result of many months of planning," Mr Cruz said.
"Creating an authentic artwork required us to source stones from Portugal and secure specialist installation skills.
"Its prominent position on King Street allows the pavement to act as a connecting work of art between nearby attractions, including St George's Park and the quayside, while its compass-like design reinforces a sense of connection and place.
"Knowing that the pavement will be protected and cherished makes us very happy."