A new campaign group has been formed by three villages which believe they are threatened with severe disruption if the B1122 road becomes the official route for Sizewell C construction traffic.

Residents of Middleton, Theberton and Yoxford have formed the B1122 Action Group to campaign against the road becoming the sole route to what is set to become the biggest construction project ever attempted in the eastern region.

“It would inflict unreasonable disturbance for many years upon hundreds of residents, due to congestion, noise and vibration from heavy traffic,” it said in a statement.

The group also claims congestion could cause severe problems for emergency vehicles attending incidents in the area and hinder the evacuation of the local population in the event of a major accident at Sizewell.

Roy Dowding, action group chairman, said it had a neutral stance on whether Sizewell C should be built, but if the project did go ahead, a new relief road was needed to connect Sizewell with the A12.

A proposed new road, across open countryside, was first discussed during the Sizewell B inquiry, but the inspector, Sir Frank Layfield QC, recommended that the B1122 would be adequate following £1million worth of improvement work.

Mr Dowding said the B1122 was “little more than a country lane” but EDF had already made clear that it would have to take up to 600 lorry movements a day.

The traffic would not only pass through the residential area of the three villages, but past two retirement homes, he said. “We believe there could be significant savings to EDF and its contractors, in time, fuel and finance, from building a relief road, not to mention the long-term benefit for Leiston,” he added.

All households along the route will shortly be contacted by the group to discuss further action.

Tom McGarry, EDF Energy’s head of communications for Sizewell C, said the company was currently conducting further work on its transport assessment prior to the next phase of public consultation.

“We are very well aware of the local concerns about the B1122 as they were raised by residents and some parish councils in response to the stage 1 consultation and we have careful regard for all feedback we receive.

“It is a lengthy process, but we are working through the transport studies and several other aspects of the Sizewell C development so that we can provide the detail community groups and residents would like to see at our next stage of consultation,” he said. For more on the Bypass 4 the Villages campaign, launched by the EADT, click here