Sudbury bypass was “never going to get funding”, say Highways chiefs
Sudbury's trafficflow will get an overhaul instead of a bypass system Picture: EMMA BRENNAN - Credit: Archant
Suffolk County Council has defended its decision to pursue traffic calming measures in Sudbury instead of a bypass, claiming that the high costs meant it was “never going to get funding”.
Mary Evans said a �70m bypass was "never going to get funding" Picture: GREGG BROWN
Conservative cabinet member for highways Mary Evans said a plan would instead be worked up to improve traffic flow around Sudbury by improving junctions.
The announcement was backed by the council’s Green group which did not want to see a bypass damage the countryside and water meadows, but sparked anger from the Labour group.
At the full council meeting on Thursday, December 6, Mrs Evans defended the decision. She said: “The cost of the bypass has gone up and the benefits according to the government framework has gone down.
The launch of Parliamentary petition calling for a long-awaited Sudbury bypass Picture: GREGG BROWN
“We decided that we cannot pursue an option that cannot be funded – that is a betrayal of what everyone in Sudbury wants.
You may also want to watch:
“What we have decided to do is work with the town council and Babergh District Council to improve the junctions.
“We are going to reinvigorate the stakeholder group that met some years ago of Babergh councillors and cabinet member for highways to look at road improvement.”
Most Read
- 1 Tudor farmhouse with separate annexe is again for sale for £1.275m
- 2 Suffolk holiday accommodation reaching capacity ahead of re-opening
- 3 Forensic teams at Woodbridge house after 'incident'
- 4 Stu says: Five observations following Ipswich Town's 0-0 home draw with MK Dons
- 5 Major police probe after man and woman found dead in Woodbridge
- 6 Police cordon after man in 20s found outside Ipswich flats dies
- 7 Woman dies after car collides with tree in Leiston
- 8 Here's what Bristol City boss Pearson said about CEO Ashton being linked to Town
- 9 National Trust 'deeply saddened' at death of volunteers in Woodbridge incident
- 10 Murder-suicide probe after couple found dead in Woodbridge
Asked why question was not put to the people of Sudbury, she added: “The junction option does not take traffic out of the town it will improve the flow in the town.
Labour transport spokesman Jack Owen said it would mean another 40 years of "misery" for Sudbury motorists Picture: SUFFOLK LABOUR GROUP - Credit: Archant
“We would not get anybody to fund us [£70m for a bypass] so do we take to Sudbury and have a debate on a road scheme that is never going to get funded or do we try and do something else?”
The council now plans to work with consultancy firm WSP to design more detailed junction improvements, alongside other measures to upgrade walking and cycling routes.
Labour’s transport spokesman Jack Owen said he believed the junction improvements were due to happen alongside a bypass, not instead of.
He said it means the “residents and visitors to our great town will be left with another 40 years of traffic misery”.
Once the junction improvements have been designed, funding will then be sought before a timeline is put in place.
