Campaigners call for ‘immediate action’ at Fishwick Corner near Bury St Edmunds

Angry residents say highways bosses will ‘have blood on their hands’ unless immediate action is taken at a notorious accident hotspot.

On Monday, a woman was rushed to hospital following a two-car crash at Fishwick Corner on the borders of Thurston and Rougham, near Bury St Edmunds.

Multiple emergency services attended the scene.

Campaigners have been calling for safety measures at the crossroads for more than a year – and have dubbed the junction ‘lethal’.

Police, firefighters, ambulance, a rapid response vehicle, and East Anglian Air Ambulance were called to the scene on Monday, around 11.30am.

Suffolk County Council said this week it believed safety provision at the junction was currently ‘adequate’, with a new staggered junction due to be built next spring.

But furious residents in neighbouring villages say action needs to be taken immediately, with fears the junction will not solve the problem.

Sue Button, who lives in Thurston, said: “I feel they will have blood on their hands if they don't do something, and quickly.

“Since we launched the campaign, nothing has been done to improve the safety at the crossroads.

“Everyone said they would look into temporary improvements but not one single party has done anything at all.

“Suffolk County Council looked at it and it was deemed safe. Accidents and near misses still happen regularly and no one seems to care about the pain and upset this causes to people in our area.”

The staggered junction on approach to Fishwick Corner is due to be built by Bloor Homes as part of an approved 210- home development off nearby Beyton Road.

Mid Suffolk District Council made it a condition that work on the junction is completed before the homes. Some residents feel the changes however will not solve the problem.

Campaigners say accidents have increased over the past five years due the number of nearby housing developments and, more recently, due to traffic avoiding ongoing construction works on the A14.

Andrew Ridgeon, from Thurston, said: “I doubt the changes proposed for this junction will fully address the accident volume, and quite possibly, not at all.

“Moreover, changes to eliminate speed into the entry and exits must be addressed immediately, until a meaningful solution can be created to solve the problem in the long term. A roundabout seems to be the most favoured option.”

Vicky Waples, clerk to Thurston Parish Council, said: “Hopefully the new junction will alleviate some of the problems.

“But at the moment safety provision is not adequate.

“The junction needs to be more prominent, perhaps with better signage, road markings, which could be immediate, at little cost.”

A spokesperson for Suffolk County Council said: “Works to improve road safety at at Fishwick Corner are due in Spring. There are currently no plans for major improvements to the junction other than those proposed by the developer.

“Meanwhile, the correct signage and road markings are in place, vegetation is cut back and visibility at the junction is adequate.

“The police will provide details of any collisions that result in serious injury, and we will be able to review whether there are any treatable patterns that can be mitigated in the short-term.”