Progress in plans to tackle Mildenhall’s lethal roads

Plans for four new crossings and a crackdown on speeding in Mildenhall have been presented to highway bosses as figures revealed the roads’ human casualties.

At a meeting of Mildenhall Parish Council’s highways strategy group on March 25, representatives from Suffolk Highways and the police listened to ideas to improve the town’s roads.

Meanwhile, figures gained through a Freedom of Information Request by the Bury Free Press show there have been 436 collisions in Mildenhall since 2010.

There were 36 collisions involving pedestrians, 21 of which resulted in injuries and two of which were fatal.

Out of all the recorded collisions, seven caused fatalities and 129 involved injuries, of which 15 were serious.

At the strategy group meeting, progress was made in plans for four new pedestrian crossings, renewing road markings and cracking down on speeding drivers, the group’s three priorities.

Dr Richard Greenfield, chairman of the group,said he was pleased ground had been made despite the time scale being longer than first anticipated.

“We’ve come to a few decisions and courses of action. There has been progress and I think people should be aware of what is going on,” he said.

“The highways people know the road markings are poor and have to be looked at. Suffolk County Council is also looking to give money for up to four crossings, some to be done within the next year.”

Supported by funds from the parish and county councils, the plans propose new crossings in Kingsway, Queensway, Bury Road and Worlington Road.

Although agreeing the new crossings could take up to nine months, the meeting was considered a formal application for them by the parish council.

During the meeting Guy Smith, county highways representative, admitted the road markings in Mildenhall had not been renewed ‘for three or four years’. He resolved all markings would be renewed, with completion expected by autumn this year.

Sgt Jason Francis commented on speeding at the meeting, quoting from figures gained in a recent survey.

The possibility of purchasing electronic speed indicator signs is under discussion.