Compiegne Way in Bury St Edmunds reopens after latest flooding

A flood-prone road in Bury St Edmunds, which was shut after it was submerged again, has reopened.

The A143 Compiegne Way was closed following heavy rainfall yesterday – the second time this year after a closure lasting nearly four weeks in January.

Suffolk Highways worked to fix the issue but, despite this, the road quickly became overwhelmed yesterday.

Asked why flooding had happened again and when the road would reopen, a Suffolk Highways spokesperson said the drainage pumps and river levels were inspected and a tanker attended to help clear the floodwater.

They said: “The river levels were found to be too high for the pumps to manage the water.

“However, following further inspection, the road is now clear of water following the river levels reducing.”

At 4.04pm, the spokesperson said the road had reopened.

The major route has repeatedly flooded in recent years, causing traffic chaos in the town.

SuffolkNews revealed last week that more than £500,000 was spent trying to fix the problem in one year alone.

But despite hundreds of thousands of pounds being spent, and repeated repairs, flooding persists

It has prompted councillors to call for a long-term solution to fix the issue.

Suffolk County Council is due to investigate the cause of the January flood.

Last week, a council spokesperson said: “We will shortly be carrying out a Section 19 investigation into Compiegne Way, which is an independent review outlined in the flood and water management act 2010, following a flood event of this severity.

“This will provide wider context as to why this area is prone to flooding and present some recommendations on how flood risk could be better managed going forward.

“Once this investigation is complete we will have a better idea on a longer-term plan for managing flooding at Compiegne Way.”