## Residents Express Concerns Over Planned Road Improvements at Fishwick Corner## Residents Express Concerns Over Planned Road Improvements at Fishwick Corner Campaigners in Thurston, near Bury St Edmunds, have criticized the planned road improvements at Fishwick Corner, labeling them as “not fit for purpose.” The improvements are intended to address the notorious accident site ahead of a 210-home development on nearby Beyton Road. Andrew Ridgeon, a campaigner and Thurston resident, claims that the proposed changes fail to address the issue of speeding from both directions at the intersection. He emphasizes that the design will not solve this problem, posing an ongoing crash risk. Residents are requesting temporary measures like traffic lights and speed reduction elements during the review of the plan to ensure a workable solution. They believe that further redesign should be considered to prevent the need for future taxpayer funding. The campaigners also call for a halt to all housing projects until adequate infrastructure is in place. Over 1,200 new homes have been approved on seven sites in the village, with significant delays expected in completing crucial infrastructure improvements. According to Bloor Homes’ schedule, work on the Beyton Road access road will not begin until early 2025, while work on Pokeriage Corner is expected to be completed before the 50th residential development. Ridgeon argues that these delays will result in inevitable and extended disruptions to the infrastructure enhancements needed for the increased population. Suffolk County Council previously stated that a stacked junction would provide adequate relief, deeming a roundabout less safe and requiring extensive land acquisition. Bloor Homes, the property developer responsible for the improvements, has yet to respond to a request for comment.
Campaigners say planned road improvements at a notorious accident site are “not fit for purpose”.
Property developer Bloor Homes has announced that work to improve the junction at Fishwick Corner in Thurston, near Bury St Edmunds, will start in late September.
It has committed to creating the approved staggered junction, on the site of the current intersection, ahead of a 210-home development on nearby Beyton Road.
The approved plan for the upgrade at Fishwick Corner, Thurston. Image: Bloor Homes/Mid Suffolk District Council
But campaigner and Thurston resident Andrew Ridgeon said: “As has been highlighted many times during the planning and redesign phase of Fishwick Corner and to this day, the proposed changes here are not considered fit for purpose.
“No attention has been paid to the issue of speeding from the east and west directions at this intersection and the design will not solve this problem.
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“To address the current ongoing crash risk here, temporary measures such as traffic lights and speed reducing elements should be introduced whilst this plan is reviewed to ensure a fully considered and workable solution is delivered, and the need to introduce further redesign in the future does not require the taxpayer to fund this.”
Fishwick Corner in Thurston, near Bury St Edmunds. Photo: Google maps
Campaigners are calling for all housing projects to be halted until a “robust” infrastructure is in place.
Since 2017, a large number of building applications have been submitted in the village by various project developers.
Currently, up to 1,248 new homes have been approved across seven sites including Ixworth Road, Norton Road, Beyton Road and Barton Road.
Bloor Homes has indicated that work on the Beyton Road access road will not commence until early 2025, while work on Pokeriage Corner is expected to be completed before the 50th residential development.
The developer is also working with Thurston City Council to ensure work on the Barton Road roundabout is completed before the 100 homes are built.
Mr Ridgeon added: “Bloor Homes’ work schedule clearly outlines that increasing delays to much-needed infrastructure improvements will be inevitable.
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“The railway underpass, Barton Road, New Road, Beyton Road intersection will not be addressed until Bloor has completed at least the entire road network, carried out groundworks on the development site, constructed a significant volume of housing and occupation has taken place.
“It is very likely that it will lead to at least another two years of delay, which also applies to the two other highway improvements they have been contracted for.
“Mid Suffolk District Council and Suffolk County Council have no immediate plans to address the five other areas of highway infrastructure and safety improvements north of the railway line.
“This outcome was expected when Bloor Homes was granted planning permission and led to calls for a complete halt to further development within the parish until all outstanding infrastructure improvements were satisfactorily completed.”
Suffolk County Council stated in a planning report at the time of the proposal that a stacked junction would ‘provide adequate relief’.
A roundabout was considered, but that would ‘take up a large area of land, be less safe for cyclists’ and require the felling of more trees.
Bloor Homes has been asked for comment.
