Fears over one-way bridge

ANXIOUS residents living along an Ipswich road fear a horrific accident is just around the corner because of drivers who blatantly disregard a one-way system.

The one-way system is in force over the railway bridge between Marlborough Road and Wellesley Road and is used on a daily basis by parents walking their children to nearby Clifford Road primary school.

Residents living along Marlborough Road say they regularly witness vehicles driving the wrong way over the bridge – despite it being impossible to see what is coming the other way.

Retired schoolteacher Graham Winward, 55, who suffers from osteoarthritis and gout, moved into his bungalow around two months ago after being attracted by the supposedly quiet nature of the road.

He said: "We bought this bungalow because I can't get upstairs and it seemed quite quiet. But the next door neighbour warned me to be careful when backing out of my garage because of the frequent idiots coming the wrong way over the bridge.

"Since being here I've seen about six cars a day doing it. Something should be done before there's a grave accident – it's going to happen sooner or later.

"The primary school is just around the corner and it's very dangerous."

Fellow Marlborough Road resident David Norman, 46, echoed Mr Winward's sentiments and said the residents have already petitioned Ipswich Borough Council about the issue in the past.

He said: "They [the drivers] do it blatantly. We've tried to get sleeping policemen to slow people down but it hasn't happened. I've seen people do it and it's very dangerous."

A spokesman for Ipswich borough council said the one-way system has been in force for "in excess" of ten years.

He said: "We can't apprehend the drivers ourselves but in our opinion it's clearly signed and has been in existence long enough for people to know which direction they should be travelling. We would hope they don't abuse it."