Suffolk councillors call for emergency traffic plan after A143 closures

Summarised from 2 outlets · 4 reports · Updated 31 Oct, 13:31 · Archive

Councillors are demanding an emergency traffic plan after five unplanned A143 closures between Ixworth and Stanton sent heavy traffic through Suffolk villages.

The A143 Blackbourn Resilience Group, comprising parish, district and county councillors, has written to MPs and Suffolk County Council demanding urgent action. Since May, five unplanned closures have affected the stretch between Ixworth and Stanton. Three were caused by heat-related road damage in May, June and August, while two followed traffic collisions in September and October.

During each closure, large volumes of traffic including HGVs have diverted through small villages using narrow rural lanes rather than official diversion routes. David Ruffles, chair of Bardwell Parish Council, said: 'Bardwell and neighbouring villages cannot continue to become the default diversion whenever the A143 is shut. Narrow lanes, historic properties and vulnerable road users are being exposed to dangerous conditions.' The diversions have caused congestion, property damage and several near-misses.

Harry Richardson, county councillor for the Blackbourn division, stated: 'The A143 is a vital economic route, but when it closes the consequences are pushed into small villages whose roads were never designed for this volume of traffic.' The resilience group is calling for a public meeting to establish a 'robust and workable' emergency plan for handling future closures. It claims that improvements to communication and signage discussed with Suffolk Highways earlier this year have not materialised.

How it is being reported

• Major road has had five unplanned closures since May - here's why it's shutting againStanton A143 closures prompt calls for an emergency plan as Suffolk Highways prepares repairs and an overnight closure on October 31, with a proposed A14 diversion.East Anglian Daily Times · 31 Oct, 12:00
• Suffolk drivers warned of five roadworks schemes including major closuresSuffolk roadworks: closures, lane restrictions and traffic lights affect Felixstowe, Bury St Edmunds, Sudbury and Ipswich from November 2.East Anglian Daily Times · 31 Oct, 06:00
• Suffolk drivers warned of five roadworks schemes including major closuresSuffolk roadworks: closures, lane restrictions and traffic lights affect Felixstowe, Bury St Edmunds, Sudbury and Ipswich from November 2.Ipswich Star · 31 Oct, 06:00
• ‘Dangerous’ traffic sparks call for emergency plan to address major road closuresCouncillors are calling for an emergency traffic plan after five A143 closures send HGVs through Suffolk villages.East Anglian Daily Times · 29 Oct, 17:32

In this story: A143 · Ixworth · Stanton · Suffolk · Bardwell Parish Council · David Ruffles · Harry Richardson · Suffolk County Council

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log