Sudbury councillors dismayed after request to divert Strategic Lorry Route away from town's congestion spots rejected

Sudbury councillors have voiced their dismay and anger, after their requests to divert lorries from congestion and pollution problem areas went unheeded in a recent review.

Suffolk County Council completed its review of the Strategic Lorry Route, a map of the recommended routes for heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) last month.

Representatives from the town councils of Sudbury and Halstead had called for alterations to stop lorries travelling along the A131, arguing the amount of traffic and the narrowness of the roads at key points made it unsuitable for HGV movements.

In Sudbury, Ballingdon Street and Cross Street have been highlighted as being particularly badly affected by this traffic, with the latter road subject to air quality monitoring due to high levels of pollution.

However, Suffolk Highways said it did not believe the town council’s suggested alternative route was viable. It also claimed there had been a noticeable reduction of nitrogen dioxide levels in the last five years, since mitigation schemes were implemented.

“The proposed alternative route would add a considerable length to each journey undertaken between Bury St Edmunds and Halstead, causing significant increases in vehicle emissions.

“There is insufficient evidence to support changes to the recommended lorry route map, as a result of the feedback.”

At their meeting last week, Sudbury Town Council formally voted to request that the county council reconsider its decision, and ask for the cabinet member for highways to explain their reasoning in person.

Cllr Steve Hall said: “I just feel utterly dismayed and disappointed in our county council, and actually quite angry.

“We’ve spent five years bringing forward discussions over the border with Halstead Town Council and Essex County Council.

“We asked members of the Suffolk county cabinet and officers to attend those meetings and they never have done. We’ve been ignored for the last five years.”

Cllr Trevor Cresswell added: “Let’s be honest – Cross Street, for the last 30 years, has been one of the most polluted streets in Suffolk. There’s more traffic than ever.”