Moreton Hall Residents’ Association leader renews calls to repair HGV-damaged Orttewell Road mini-roundabout, in Bury St Edmunds

A community leader has made renewed calls for a roundabout repeatedly bashed by heavy goods vehicles to be fixed.

Melanie Soanes, chair of the Moreton Hall Residents’ Association, said Suffolk Highways has a duty of care to repair the Orttewell Road mini-roundabout, in Bury St Edmunds, and its lack of action was disappointing.

Although the road is not part of a strategic lorry route, it continues to be used by HGVs to cut through the estate, which have hit the roundabout and caused bricks to come loose.

Melanie said it was an accident waiting to happen and was told by Suffolk Highways in September that the damage wasn’t bad enough to take action as it didn’t meet ‘intervention criteria’.

However, Highways said it will continue to monitor the location as part of routine inspections.

The ongoing issue was raised again at the residents’ association meeting on Monday night, where possible solutions were discussed including having it fixed privately to the estimated tune of about £4,000.

However, Melanie has called for Highways to step up and fix the roundabout.

She said: “I just don’t know why Highways can’t come out and fix it - they have a duty of care to look after it.

“They don’t seem to want to take ownership and carry out repairs. We don’t want an accident.”

The key roundabout, she said, had become an eyesore.

“The bricks fall onto the road and people seem to be picking them up. However, if anyone is on their bike, especially when it’s dark and they hit a brick, then there’s going to be a problem,” said Melanie.

SuffolkNews first reported on the issue in November 2022 and again last September when residents raised safety concerns.

At the time, Suffolk Highways said it would be inspecting the roundabout ‘as soon as possible’.

Suffolk Highways has been approached for comment.