Protestors staging a sit-in to save their beloved 1950s bus shelter from demolition have been thwarted after council contractors descended on the Sheringham bus shelter at first light on Friday.
The workers installed sheet metal panels around the site while demonstrators remained inside the historic brick structure.
The fencing was erected to shield the protest from public view, marking a significant escalation in the standoff between Norfolk County Council and local residents.
Bailiffs and police officers subsequently arrived at Station Approach, near the heritage railway station, after the council issued an eviction notice demanding protesters vacate the area.
The council has called on those occupying the site to “leave immediately”, warning that entering what it considers a construction zone poses safety risks.
Residents of the Norfolk seaside town had been braving freezing temperatures since December 1 to prevent the treasured stop from being razed.
Norfolk County Council intends to demolish the brick shelter, located outside the North Norfolk Railway Station, replacing it with a contemporary glass and steel “travel hub.”
The authority argues that the existing structure fails to meet modern accessibility requirements and presents safety concerns.
The 1950s shelter features brick work and a train mural
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For locals, however, the shelter represents far more than a waiting area—it features a mural by local artist Colin Seal and is considered an integral part of Sheringham’s identity.
The demonstration has been dubbed the “We Shannock be moved” protest, referencing the traditional name for town residents.
Despite the council’s hardline approach, protesters are now celebrating a partial triumph after eviction proceedings were temporarily suspended.
The demonstrators are challenging the legal validity of the eviction notice, forcing authorities to pause their removal efforts while the dispute is examined.
The shelter can be found near North Norfolk Railway
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Norfolk County Council maintains its position that all appropriate legal and procedural steps were taken before serving the notice.
The authority has reiterated its commitment to proceeding with the demolition, stating that retaining the current shelter is simply not feasible.
Nevertheless, the pause has given campaigners renewed hope that their occupation may yet succeed in preserving the structure they hold dear.
Local businesses have rallied behind the campaigners, delivering food and sleeping bags to sustain those keeping vigil at the shelter.
North Norfolk’s Liberal Democrat MP Steff Aquarone visited protesters to show solidarity, accusing the Conservative-run county council of adopting a “bullyboy approach.”
He has tabled an early day motion in Parliament, backed by nine fellow Lib Dems, urging the council to halt works and engage in “constructive discussion with the community.”
The Save Sheringham’s Historic Bus Shelter campaign group declared: “We want as many people as possible to come down between those hours to stand and support us.
“As with everything we’ve done so far, this is to be peaceful, respectful and lawful.”