The leader of Norfolk County Council has hit out at an environmental campaigner who tried to block three major A47 schemes through the courts.

Kay Mason Billig said she could see "no good reason" for former Green city and county councillor Andrew Boswell's crowd-funded legal challenge over the A47 schemes.

Dereham Times: Norfolk County Council leader Kay Mason BilligNorfolk County Council leader Kay Mason Billig (Image: Norfolk County Council)

The Conservative County Hall leader, during a recent meeting of the council's cabinet, said: "It is very sad when you have the three safety schemes which we were trying to put into place held up in the court for no apparent good reason that I can see.

"We need those schemes, not just for the people who are travelling on those roads, but to improve our economic development opportunities."

Dereham Times: Dr Andrew BoswellDr Andrew Boswell (Image: Dan Grimmer)

Dr Boswell had challenged the legality of government decisions to permit three schemes on the A47 in Norfolk - a revamp of the Thickthorn roundabout, along with dualling between North Burlingham and Blofield, plus Easton to North Tuddenham.

Dereham Times: Thickthorn roundaboutThickthorn roundabout (Image: Mike Page)

His argument, that the government had not considered the cumulative carbon impact of the schemes, was dismissed by the High Court last year and again by the Court of Appeal last month.

National Highways said delays in construction had added millions to the cost.

Dr Boswell is considering taking the case to the Supreme Court.

The eco-campaigner has been accused of hypocrisy by Norfolk MP George Freeman for driving a petrol VW Golf and not spending a penny of his own money on the legal fight.