SAFETY experts are looking at possible changes to a road scheme following criticism from residents who say it has not worked.Suffolk County Council spent £30,000 on the project in Colneis Road, Felixstowe, two years ago after concerns over speed and congestion and parking problems outside two schools.

SAFETY experts are looking at possible changes to a road scheme following criticism from residents who say it has not worked.

Suffolk County Council spent £30,000 on the project in Colneis Road, Felixstowe, two years ago after concerns over speed and congestion and parking problems outside two schools.

Police speed traps found people driving at up to 70mph down the 30mph road.

Work was carried out at junctions to stop parents doing U-turns when hunting for parking spaces and improve safety for crossing pedestrians, parking was restricted outside Colneis Junior School and a zebra put in place.

Further along the road at its junction with Ferry Road, similar restrictions and crossing points were put in to improve safety near Kingsfleet Primary.

But residents have told the county council the safety scheme has not made the road safer at all and they felt their views had not been taken into account.

In a survey of households in the affected area, 73 per cent felt speed of vehicles using long, straight Colneis Road had not decreased at all.

Three-quarters of those who responded believed the road was not safer following the work, and 79pc felt more should be done. More than half said there was not enough consultation with residents and 70pc said their views were not considered before the scheme was completed.

The joint county-town council highways advisory committee was told residents were concerned the crossing islands in the sideroad junctions meant buses and other large vehicles had to mount the pavements to turn in.

Farm vehicles could also not make the turn from Ferry Lane to Colneis Road.

People felt parking problems at school arrival and departure time had now been moved from Colneis Road to the sideroads, while there was still congestion, parking across driveways, and more measures to cut speed were needed.

There was still large support for a 20mph speed limit at school times, which had been part of the original scheme but was axed because of cost.

A report to the committee said the main problem was larger vehicles having to use the pavements to turn into sideroads and the only solution may be to remove the crossing islands, which would make it more difficult for pedestrians. An analysis of the situation would take place soon.

The traffic and safety team was currently reviewing all the results of the questionnaire survey and also looking at issues such as surplus and missing signs in the area, and would report on any changes to the next meeting.