A DEATH at an accident blackspot has tragically highlighted the flaws in proposals to build an incinerator at Great Blakenham, campaigners claimed today.

Josh Warwick

A DEATH at an accident blackspot has tragically highlighted the flaws in proposals to build an incinerator at Great Blakenham, campaigners claimed today.

Twenty-two-year-old Abbie Pennell was killed yesterday morning after her Mitsubishi Warrior pick-up truck was involved in a collision with a coach at a notorious junction on the B1113, close to the A14.

A 43-year-old man from Eye was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. He was released on bail to return to Bury St Edmund's police station on September 1.

The scene of the horror smash is adjacent to land controversially earmarked for the construction of an incinerator and close to the proposed SnOasis winter sports complex development.

Today, those opposed to the incinerator said the tragedy confirmed their fears over the inadequacy of the infrastructure in the area.

Great Blakenham Parish Council chairwoman Shirley Fairburn said: “The accident caused havoc in the village. It was chaos. This wasn't the first bad accident there.

“There have been several - it's known as a bad spot for traffic, one of the worst in the county.”

Mrs Fairburn said the matter would be raised at a proposed meeting with highways bosses at Suffolk County Council.

Peter Welham, from the SnOasis Community Alliance and Suffolk Against Incineration and Landfill, said the junction had been a safety concern for many years.

“It's a hugely dangerous junction,” he said. “It is very busy and it will only get worse with an incinerator and SnOasis.”

Great Blakenham resident John Burggy, of Gipping Road, added: “We can't cope with what we have now. Any more traffic and it will be hell.”

A spokeswoman for Suffolk County Council sent the authority's sympathies to the family and friends of Miss Pennell.

She added: “Our safety engineers will work with the police to investigate the cause of the accident as we usually do in the case of serious and fatal accidents.

“We appreciate that people may have concerns about the traffic levels at Great Blakenham, but we can assure residents that before any planning application is submitted, a detailed transport assessment would have to be carried out.

“This will assess not only the vehicle movements for the proposals, but will also take into account existing vehicle movements at the time and any other permitted developments.”