Remedial works to improve safety at Fishwick Corner, Thurston, near Bury St Edmunds, greeted by ‘dismay and outright fury’ by campaigners

Remedial works to improve safety at a notorious accident blackspot have been greeted by ‘dismay and outright fury’ by campaigners.

Suffolk County Council (SCC) said following an inspection at Fishwick Corner, Thurston, near Bury St Edmunds, it will be renewing road markings and clearing back ‘some vegetation’ to improve visibility.

Temporary signs will also be in place next week leading to further work to create a staggered junction, by developers Bloor Homes.

But campaigners have been left fuming after the county council said it would also be asking police for recommendations - after what it called a ‘sudden increase’ in accidents.

Campaigner Andrew Ridgeon, said: “There has always been accident at the junction, for decades.

“It has got worse thought over the last four years and significantly over the last year, due to four new housing developments and traffic avoiding the A14 roadworks.

“There has been incidents every day, very high levels of speeding, huge uplift in traffic flow and nothing done to mitigate these dangers. No wonder we are in the mess we are subjected to.

“I can’t recall being so enraged, and I know our community will share the same dismay and outright fury.”

In a letter to campaigners, seen by SuffolkNews, Andrew Cook, executive director for growth, highways and Infrastructure, said: “I can advise that my team have contacted the police to review these recent incidents and try to identify why there has been a sudden increase – will respond accordingly to any recommendations that they might have.

“An SCC inspector has also visited the site again to check whether there are any remedial works to vegetation or line markings that can be undertaken, and orders have been raised for some minor vegetation trimming and a refresh of lining.

“Beyond this, all approach signing is in place and visible.

“I can also confirm that associated developer works are scheduled to commence soon with road space booked for August 15 to 29 around the junction to construct a minor works access to allow the main works to commence.

“This will include appropriate temporary warning signs on approach to the junction.

“The agreement is also expected to be in place imminently for the main developer works, so these should commence in the autumn, and this will result in a re-alignment of the junction.

Developer Bloor Homes will be constructing the staggered junction as a condition imposed by Mid Suffolk District Council before it build 210 houses, off nearby Beyton Road.

A spokesperson said the junction work will begin in full at the end of September and last ‘approximately 14 weeks’.

Last week, Mid Suffolk District councillor, David Bradbury, said action must be taken ‘immediately’ at the junction even while work on the staggered junction is underway.

At present, up to 1,248 new homes have been approved in Thurston across seven sites including Ixworth Road, Norton Road, Beyton Road and Barton Road.