Latest news with #SuffolkCountyCouncil
BBC News
6 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Suffolk MP calls for 'urgent action' on school road safety
An MP has called for "urgent action" to improve road safety outside schools as she felt children were at serious risk every Riddell-Carpenter, Labour MP for Suffolk Coastal, has started a petition asking government to urge Suffolk County Council to put together a tailored road safety plan for every MP said she was "shocked" and "really touched" to hear children bring up this issue themselves during her school county council said it took road safety education "very seriously". "I visited schools across my constituency and I was really shocked that one of the things most of the children wanted to talk about in the rural primary schools was road safety," said Riddell-Carpenter."Naturally parents and teachers are concerned too, but it was hearing stories from the children and the genuine anxiety they had because they felt the roads around their primary schools weren't safe." Riddell-Carpenter said the tailored road safety plans would outline measures such as 20mph speed limits, appropriate crossings, enforcement and walking petition will run until the first week of September before being presented to said the petition was part of her plan to launch a national campaign later in the year seeking tighter laws surrounding road safety at council said it was already reviewing its criteria around approving the introduction of more 20mph speed limits outside schools, with a report due by the end of the year, reports the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Rachael Rudge, head teacher of Bucklesham Primary near Ipswich, said her school sat on a junction of two roads of 30mph and 60mph."Many of our parents have to park on the 60mph road on our boundary and cross that road to drop their child off. We have no safety barrier at our main pedestrian gate," she saidWhile the school has had no incidents involving a pupil, Ms Rudge said there had been some near misses with parents. School's programme The council said it would support schools on an individual basis "as necessary and within the resources available".A spokesperson said for over 20 years it had also run the successful Junior Road Safety Officer programme which was "an effective way to maximise the delivery of road safety awareness through peer-to-peer education from young people who know their local area".The programme is open to all primary schools and in the past year 61 schools had participated. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
15-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Suffolk split over revised plan for northern bypass
In February 2020, divisive plans to build a northern bypass to ease congestion in Ipswich and the surrounding areas were shelved after years of last week, the project was revived and approved when a Labour councillor's motion received cross-party support at the Conservative-led Suffolk County for the large new road intensified in the wake of the partial closure of the Orwell Bridge for repair works, which caused traffic the decision to put the plans back on the table has unnerved some residents in Witnesham – one of the small villages which the bypass could be built through. Villager Josephine Debnam, 83, said: "If it was direct from Felixstowe, then it might make a difference and stop the town from getting clogged up."But, no, I don't support a northern bypass because we have enough traffic around this area already without adding more to it – it's chaos." Shaun Farrell, who moved to the village two years ago from Ipswich, feared his house would have to be taken away from him if the project went ahead."It would help the town, I suppose, but I wouldn't want it to affect me," the 48-year-old told the BBC."We've just done loads to the house and we are doing it up, and if they were to just give us a set price and tell us to get out, then I wouldn't be very happy - I'd be gutted." Another villager, who has lived in the area for 20 years but did not wish to be named, said a northern bypass would "cause a lot of problems for an awful lot of people".She also raised concerns over the impact it could have on fauna and wildlife in the village."Why don't they build something under the bridge, something simple?" the 60-year-old said."Because this is going to be irreversible once they start putting concrete down and the traffic starts booming through."Nobody gives two monkeys about us, the people who have lived here for donkey's years – we'll just get kicked out basically." Some motorists have been particularly keen for the plans to be revisited since joint repair works started on the Orwell Bridge last scheme has resulted in lengthy delays for drivers going to and from work, and some businesses have also reported suffering financial Highways, however, said the work, costing £6m, was essential, but appreciated that disruption had been caused. "It's really frustrating because at the moment we are prisoners in our own homes [because of the traffic]," said Roger Mayhew, 73, who lives in Ipswich but spoke to the BBC while in Witnesham."This morning, coming here, there were queues all around, and there's all these big developments going on and extra traffic with no infrastructure."So something has got to give soon, but nothing is going to happen overnight." The bypass was welcomed by some business owners who travel to and from the village of Witnesham, and believed it was the best way Michael Hancock, 64, said: "I have been coming from north Ipswich to here and back every day for years, and when the bridge is closed, it is laughable."But you can solve this problem, so I have never understood why they wouldn't do a northern bypass."Roads are built all around the UK and at some point they will disadvantage some people and advantage other people – but you don't want to be in a traffic jam your whole life." Neil Austin, who has been the owner of the village's Barley Mow pub for eight years, also believed the road is needed to put an end to the gridlock."I travel through Ipswich to get to work, and it is an absolute nightmare, and it's only going to get worse, so I think we should have the bypass," the 56-year-old said."People don't want to move with the times, and things are moving fast around here, but wherever they put it, it's going to impact someone somewhere – but that's life." The plan for a northern bypass had been discussed for a number of years, but confidence in it grew when Suffolk County Council seriously considered it several years 2019, the county council launched a public consultation to gauge public interest in the relief road, which it hoped would mitigate traffic possible routes were proposed that would link the A14/A140 and the A12, but, in order to gain government funding, 15,000 new homes needed to be local authorities failed to agree on housing, the plans were the road could still come to fruition, after councillor Sandy Martin put a motion before Suffolk County Council calling for it to be was then amended to include a "suite of options", not just a "binary" northern bypass solution, before it was ultimately approved. "We cannot afford to have Ipswich brought to a complete standstill every time the bridge is shut, we cannot afford as a county to see Felixstowe downgraded," said Martin."We cannot afford as a country to see the expensive delays and disruptions to this nation's major trade route without any mitigation measures taken." What happens next? While the motion has been approved and singles a renewed cross-party commitment to finding a solution to traffic issues in Ipswich, nothing will happen overnight. A new mayor-led authority for Norfolk and Suffolk is in the process of being established as part of Downing Street's local council devolution mayor will not be elected until May 2026, so it is unlikely any progress will be made until after that part of the motion, a letter will also first have to be sent to the government, and it will have to consider whether it is willing to fund the project. A Department for Transport spokesperson said: "We are committed to supporting reliable, safe transport links in Suffolk and beyond, and are investing £24bn over the next four years to maintain and improve roads across the country."While works to improve safety on the Orwell Bridge have increased congestion, some closures remain necessary to protect road users and maintain vital routes.". Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'Get to work' on northern bypass, MP pleads
An MP has called on a council to "get to work" on a bypass after councillors voted in favour of the new road following years of political gridlock. A northern bypass for Ipswich has long been suggested as a means of easing congestion - but just a fortnight ago any decision appeared to be off the cards until next year. The plan was approved last week when a Labour councillor's motion received cross-party support at the Conservative-led Suffolk County Council. "It is welcome that people from across the political divide have demanded that the administration wake up and finally take action," said Jack Abbot, Labour MP for Ipswich. "It is now incumbent on Suffolk County Council to immediately get to work and produce the plans. "If they do so, I'll work alongside them to get the funding we need from government in the long-term interests of Ipswich, Felixstowe and Suffolk." Sandy Martin, who brought the motion, said the northern bypass would not only help ease general congestion, but also boost trade at, and stemming from, the Port of Felixstowe, the UK's largest container port. "We cannot afford to have Ipswich brought to a complete standstill every time the bridge is shut, we cannot afford as a county to see Felixstowe downgraded," he added. "We cannot afford as a country to see the expensive delays and disruptions to this nation's major trade route without any mitigation measures taken." The plans were shelved in February 2020 due to a lack of political support, with councillors and the area's three Conservative MPs at the time divided on the plans. Hundreds of people protested outside the council's headquarters, claiming the scheme would destroy the countryside, increase pollution and would cost the taxpayer millions of pounds without reducing traffic. The project has had a recent resurgence in popularity after Mr Abbott said it was "bypass or bust" amid weeks of diversions and congestion during works on the Orwell Bridge. Many of the same key problems which led to the strong opposition still remained, particularly in relation to how to secure government funding for the project, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. In 2019, funding was reliant on 15,000 new homes being built over and above the numbers local authorities were allocated in their local plans. Conservative councillor Elaine Bryce, who played a key part in opposing the initial scheme, said the amount of development needed to unlock the funding would cause devastation in many of the villages she represented. Andrew Stringer, a Green councillor and the main opposition group's leader, said: "There must be ample opportunity to provide a bridge, tunnel, anything else other than just tearing through one of the most beautiful parts of Suffolk." Council leader Matthew Hicks, who renewed his opposition for the bypass, said: "Suffolk is waiting for a whole series of infrastructure to move forward. "Labour has failed, so far, to bring new funding." The motion was backed across party lines with 29 votes for and 12 against, while eight abstained. The authority will now seek further clarity from the government on its priorities. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Big businesses bemoan Orwell Bridge work 'failure' No decision on road plan 'until mayor elected' Bypass for town is 'of national significance' - MP
BBC News
14-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
'Get to work' on northern bypass, Ipswich MP pleads
An MP has called on a council to "get to work" on a bypass after councillors voted in favour of the new road following years of political gridlock. A northern bypass for Ipswich has long been suggested as a means of easing congestion - but just a fortnight ago any decision appeared to be off the cards until next plan was approved last week when a Labour councillor's motion received cross-party support at the Conservative-led Suffolk County Council."It is welcome that people from across the political divide have demanded that the administration wake up and finally take action," said Jack Abbot, Labour MP for Ipswich. "It is now incumbent on Suffolk County Council to immediately get to work and produce the plans. "If they do so, I'll work alongside them to get the funding we need from government in the long-term interests of Ipswich, Felixstowe and Suffolk." Sandy Martin, who brought the motion, said the northern bypass would not only help ease general congestion, but also boost trade at, and stemming from, the Port of Felixstowe, the UK's largest container port."We cannot afford to have Ipswich brought to a complete standstill every time the bridge is shut, we cannot afford as a county to see Felixstowe downgraded," he added."We cannot afford as a country to see the expensive delays and disruptions to this nation's major trade route without any mitigation measures taken."The plans were shelved in February 2020 due to a lack of political support, with councillors and the area's three Conservative MPs at the time divided on the of people protested outside the council's headquarters, claiming the scheme would destroy the countryside, increase pollution and would cost the taxpayer millions of pounds without reducing project has had a recent resurgence in popularity after Mr Abbott said it was "bypass or bust" amid weeks of diversions and congestion during works on the Orwell of the same key problems which led to the strong opposition still remained, particularly in relation to how to secure government funding for the project, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. In 2019, funding was reliant on 15,000 new homes being built over and above the numbers local authorities were allocated in their local councillor Elaine Bryce, who played a key part in opposing the initial scheme, said the amount of development needed to unlock the funding would cause devastation in many of the villages she Stringer, a Green councillor and the main opposition group's leader, said: "There must be ample opportunity to provide a bridge, tunnel, anything else other than just tearing through one of the most beautiful parts of Suffolk."Council leader Matthew Hicks, who renewed his opposition for the bypass, said: "Suffolk is waiting for a whole series of infrastructure to move forward."Labour has failed, so far, to bring new funding."The motion was backed across party lines with 29 votes for and 12 against, while eight authority will now seek further clarity from the government on its priorities. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
09-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Suffolk buses to get new routes and improvements through funding
New bus routes will be launched and services improved following an allocation of County Council was awarded a total grant of £8m from the Department for Transport's Local Authority Bus Grant last month, with £2.8m allocated for this well as new routes, some services will have increased frequency and a Sunday schedule added. The majority of services will start in late August or early September, but a new service to replace the axed Marham Park Flyer began on Chris Chambers, in charge of transport strategy at the council, said the news represented "the biggest positive change" to services since 1998. "We have been working extensively, over many months, with local providers and the community to find solutions for those affected by the cancellation of the Marham Park Flyer service," Chambers said. "The Local Authority Bus Grant for 2025/26, which the council received from the Department for Transport on 1 June, has enabled us to offer a replacement for this much-loved route."To reduce the gap in services around Marham Park, we worked with the Traffic Commissioner to ensure a shorter notice period than usually required for the new route to begin and I am pleased that this new route has now started."A full list of new services or changes to current routes can be found on the council's council also previously announced £5.2m of the Local Authority Bus Grant would go toward new and improved bus stops, bus stations, bus priority measures or vehicle upgrades. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
