THE bid to improve the notorious A140 continued today, after a council revealed it is to ask the public what they think should be done.Questionnaires are to be sent to thousands of homes along its route, the Evening Star can reveal.

By Tracey Sparling

THE bid to improve the notorious A140 continued today, after a council revealed it is to ask the public what they think should be done.

Questionnaires are to be sent to thousands of homes along its route, the Evening Star can reveal.

Suffolk County Council took over responsibility for the A140, and A12 north of Ipswich, last year.

These were previously trunk roads, managed on behalf of the Government by the Highways Agency.

The council's director of environment and transport, Peter Thompson, said: "Our objective is to reduce further the number of people killed or seriously injured on all Suffolk's roads, including the A12 and A140.

"We are considering safety as well as other aspects of the management by the development of route strategies.

"This cannot be done overnight. It involves information-gathering and consultation with local communities, businesses and other road-users.

"We also need to develop the strategy for the A140 with Norfolk County Council, because the public should have consistent standards along the length of the road.

"As soon as our study work and consultations are complete, we will decide measures and implement them.

"We have installed speed cameras on accident sites on the A12 and A140, and early signs are that these are

reducing risks.

"We are working with local communities to make these roads safer and this will remain a key priority for the county council. We have distributed questionnaires to 30,000 homes and businesses on the A12, and arranged exhibitions. We will do the same on the A140.

"We urge people to respond to the questionnaires, and attend the exhibitions."

Meanwhile, the road and its victims are the main topic at the White Horse pub on the A140 at Stoke Ash – where nurse Kathy Sparkes' car was in collision with a lorry last Thursday.

Publican Shane Aldridge said: "We are all pleased to hear the woman is making a good recovery. Customers have been talking about what should be done."

He said the most popular idea seemed to be a dual carriageway, and that roadworks were on-going.

He said: "It doesn't help that it is so difficult for people to drive out on to the road from their homes. If it takes 20 minutes, you can't then expect people not to try and make up the time."

For a questionnaire, telephone 01473 583286 or see www.suffolkcc.gov.uk