Councillor's 'last resort' attempt to address Moreton Hall estate HGV problem

A Bury St Edmunds councillor has high hopes a long-running Moreton Hall estate HGV problem could be addressed.

District councillor Trevor Beckwith is due to speak to today’s West Suffolk Council overview and scrutiny committee after submitting the councillor call for action (CCFA) titled ‘Impact of the eastern relief road and A14 junction 45 on the Moreton Hall residential area’.

He said this week he was hopeful of winning backing for the CCFA, after hitting a brick wall through other avenues.

Cllr Beckwith, Moreton Hall Residents’ Association and residents said increasing numbers of HGVs were using the estate’s roads since the opening of the eastern relief road connecting the estate with junction 45 of the A14. The road was designed to divert industrial traffic away from the estate.

Residents say the noise of the heavy goods vehicles driving yards away from their homes has a detrimental impact on their lives.

However, efforts to resolve the matter with Suffolk County Council have been unsuccessful.

Any councillor can request the overview and scrutiny committee considers a CCFA to be included in its work programme, but it should be requested only in exceptional circumstances where all possible avenues for resolution have been followed yet a problem still exists.

“I will be really wound up if this isn’t taken forward,” said Cllr Beckwith.

“The call for action ticks all the boxes. This is the last resort as I have tried everything else.”

Cllr Beckwith said he was hopeful that eventually improved signage could be installed on the A14, directing HGVs to use junction 45 at Rougham, if funding could be found.

“The HGV increase is adversely impacting on several residential areas of the Moreton Hall estate, despite the junction upgrade,” said Cllr Beckwith.

“I hope the committee agrees to a formal hearing so it can hear from residents, the residents’ association and myself.”

Councillors have had the ability to lodge CCFAs since 2009, however the mechanism has only been used twice before to Cllr Beckwith’s knowledge.

He previously successfully lodged a CCFA which led to a parking layby being installed in Skyliner Way.

Read more: All the latest news from Suffolk

Read more: All the latest news from Bury St Edmunds