As a resident of Bury St Edmunds, I am deeply worried about the upcoming roadworks on the A134 Sicklesmere Road and the inevitable chaos they will bring to our already strained local roads. The planned works, led by Hopkins Homes as part of their Abbots Vale development, will force traffic onto alternative routes, and we, the residents of Rushbrooke Lane and Low Green, fear the consequences.
At a recent community engagement meeting at Southgate Community Centre, local residents unanimously called for urgent action: these roads must be closed for ‘access only’ before they become overrun by rat-running motorists. Given that the roadworks include eight weekend closures from 17th February to 5th May, with traffic lights in place during the week, it is clear that drivers will seek shortcuts to avoid the 43-mile diversion route.
Rushbrooke Lane and Low Green are already in a poor state of repair, and with an influx of cars and HGVs, the situation will only deteriorate. These roads were never designed to handle the levels of traffic they will soon face, and the safety of pedestrians, cyclists, and residents will be put at serious risk.
Even more concerning is the lack of clear action from Suffolk Highways. While Hopkins Homes claims to have consulted the council, we were dismayed to learn that Suffolk County Council does not intend to close Rushbrooke Lane and Low Green to through traffic. This is unacceptable. If Suffolk Highways fails to act now, our community will bear the brunt of their inaction.
Suffolk County Councillor Richard Rout has rightly supported the concerns of residents, stating that closing Rushbrooke Lane from the southern end ‘makes complete sense’. The unanimous vote at the meeting further reinforces our demand: we need access-only restrictions in place before the works begin.
Our concerns extend beyond just these two roads. Nowton Road, another vulnerable route, is already plagued by speeding issues, and residents fear it will also be used as an unofficial diversion. Without immediate preventative measures, this will become yet another accident waiting to happen.
While Hopkins Homes has promised measures such as advisory speed limits, signage, and monitoring, these are not enough. Once the disruption begins, it will be too late to undo the damage. We demand that Hopkins Homes and Suffolk Highways prioritise our safety and well-being by implementing proper road closures now, before our community is forced to endure months of dangerous and avoidable congestion.
We call for an urgent follow-up meeting that includes Suffolk Highways so that they can no longer ignore the clear and justified concerns of local residents. Our roads, our safety, and our quality of life are at stake.
