Speeding motorists rumbled

SPEEDING motorists are being rumbled along one rural road after highways bosses launched a bid to improve an accident blackspot.

Four strips of green 'rippleprint' have been planted in Little Bealings – designed to send a rumbling sensation through speeding cars on the C328.

Residents asked for safety improvements to Playford Road and Martlesham Road after complaining of speeding drivers and a dangerous crossroad.

The 'rippleprint' was put in place last week, two strips either side of the crossroads – where villagers come in and out of Little Bealings – and one at either end of the road.

Sylvia Chenery, clerk of Little Bealings Parish Council, said: "They are supposed to rumble when you drive over them to remind you it is a restricted speed area.

"There are lots of speeding cars along the road and trying to get out of the village is quite horrendous – we have been trying to make that crossing safe for some time."

"I think it's quite an experimental thing. They are supposed to rumble so you can hear and feel it in the car, but should not be a noise nuisance to residents. They are made in green and beige colours, but we have got green because the beige wears off, apparently."

She added: "We didn't ask for them specifically, but we asked for something to be done, like putting in signs.

"I don't know what people think of them because they have not been there for long. We will see how it goes."

A spokesperson for Suffolk County Council, said: "As part of a speed management strategy involving Little Bealings, the county council has used a new green road material - called rippleprint - which should reduce driver speed and not result in additional noise for local residents, unlike some speed reduction surfacing can do.

"It is a new material and we will be monitoring its effectiveness over the coming months. We will also be painting '30' signs on the road to further remind drivers of the speed limit at this point."