CONTROVERSIAL plans for a new quarry have been rejected after councillors claimed it would make a nearby highway too dangerous.

CONTROVERSIAL plans for a new quarry have been rejected after councillors claimed it would make a nearby highway a deathtrap.

Villagers from Chilton, Great Waldingfield and Newton turned out in force at Suffolk County Council's development control committee meeting to oppose proposals to build a quarry on a patch of county council-owned land in the Chilton Estate in Chilton, near Sudbury.

Committee members turned down the plans because of concerns over its impact on the adjoining A134.

Committee member Morris Rose said the scheme, if it had been allowed through, would have made the A134 “suicidal” because of heavy goods vehicles turning onto the 60mph road on a narrow and winding road.

After the meeting Charles Michell, committee chairman, said: "At the committee we looked at the application in fine detail and we were very concerned with a number of issues.

“These concerns included the extra traffic that would travel along the A134 and the effects it would have on the local community and the safety of the suggested road layout that was put forward by the applicant.

“Our main concern is the safety of road users and the communities that live along that stretch of road.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank all who have fed their comments to the committee including those who attended the meeting today. They were all taken in consideration when coming to a decision.”

For the full story see tomorrow's EADT.