Sproughton: Calls to tackle village speed and traffic issues

Sproughton residents initiated a volunteer speed watch as the traffic situation in the village due to the issues.

But speed is not the only concern in their neighbourhood as they call for change to reduce traffic problems in the village. 

Andrew Bannan, one of the volunteers, said on the list of problems are breaches of weight restrictions, and illegally parked vehicles. 

On Wednesday, May 17, the watch recorded 36 speeding offences in excess of the 30mph limit in just one hour. 

Andrew Bannan, one of the volunteers, said: "The village of Sproughton has a full house of traffic issues. 

"The changes sought are for definitive road infrastructure to enforce traffic calming measures that directly impact on the behaviour of all drivers as opposed to continually having to report the regular individual cases of anti-social driving in all its forms."

He said the group had also noted other issues including various forms of anti-social driving, such as mounting pavement, noisy, backfiring illegally modified exhausts.

In addition, reports had been made of intimidating driver behaviour, damage to side mirrors of parked cars, as well as illegally parked cars without adequate pavement space for pushchairs and wheelchairs. 

Andrew Bannan of the Sproughton speed watch, Supplied (Image: Supplied)

Mr Bannan has issued a plea to authorities for potential traffic calming measures. 

He said: "An example of the potentially beneficial effect this would have is the impact that a small traffic island has in the middle of the high street on the approach from Bramford.  

"Traffic from this direction generally ignores the large 30mph signage on both sides of the road about half a mile from the village but tends to break at the island as it had a direct impact on their driving space    

"Something similar is required on all approaches to the village and a form of traffic and parking management infrastructure along the high street.    

"In addition, the half mile between Bramford’s 40mph zone and Sproughton’s 30mph zone where the national speed limit applies needs to be changed to a 40mph zone."   

Suffolk County Councillor Christopher Hudson, who represents the Belstead Brook ward, called the issue "the highway to hell". 

The boat as it travelled through Sproughton. (Image: David Butler)

Earlier this year, traffic snarled up around Sproughton and the surrounding areas after a boat became stuck navigating through the village. 

He added that "far too big vehicles drive through the tiny little streets" of Sproughton, making the situation "lethal". 

Councillor Christopher Hudson, SUFFOLK COUNTY COUNCIL (Image: SUFFOLK COUNTY COUNCIL)

He said: "We've got all kinds of problems there, including urine bottles thrown out of the windows because there's no toilet facilities for the drivers. 

"It's a lethal problem that, I believe, could be mitigated if we had better traffic management."

We really need contraflow on the A14. 

"As a county councillor, I think we should be able to put a control flow in on the road. I know it takes longer to arrange that, but what’s going on now in this little village, I'd describe as being the highway to hell." 

A spokesperson for National Highways said that they "carefully consider" any diversion route and these are agreed in partnership with Suffolk County Council and Suffolk Police.
 
"When it has been necessary to divert traffic through Sproughton, we have taken a number of steps to ensure the safety of those living locally.

"This has included a temporary 20 mph speed limit, traffic signals to regulate vehicles through the narrow High Street as well as utilising speed camera vans.
 
"At times there has been no alternative diversion routes and we remain very grateful for people's patience when additional traffic has been diverted through the village."

A Suffolk Police spokesperson added the force wanted to reassure residents over the distress of anti social driving and how they can report it.

The spokesperson said: "We want to encourage people to report specific incidents to us and will always endeavour to respond effectively.

"Members of the public can assist us by recording the registration details of the vehicles involved in inappropriate and anti-social driving, along with a description of the vehicles and its occupants."