25 mile diversion planned as the A1071 between Ipswich and Sudbury closes for work later this month

Concerns have been raised over a massive diversion of about 25 miles between Ipswich and Sudbury at the end of the month.

The A1071 in Silver Hill, Hintlesham, will be shut to allow Anglian Water and UK Power Networks to connect more people to their systems – but a bus company has hit out at the 'ridiculous' move.

Anyone travelling between the two towns will have to take a large detour via the A12 and the A134, which will include driving through Colchester.

The roadworks should last from 7am on October 31, to 7am on November 1, and rescheduling took place to allow UKPN and Anglian Water to conduct their work on the same day to minimise disruptions.

Tom Munson, operations director from family-run bus service Beestons which runs services between Hadleigh, Sudbury, Ipswich, said the diversion was ridiculous, with the firm having to cancel some services.

There will be no stops in Hintlesham throughout the closure, and a revised timetable has been released.

He added: "It’s a complete shambles with no thought given to others, it will cost us a huge sum in lost revenue for that day without any compensation – that doesn't account for the travel disruptions for thousands of people.

"We did ask Highways to have the works completed the previous week as being a school half term there is a lot less traffic on the road but this request was dismissed.

"It’s going to be a complete nightmare and I really don’t understand why it couldn’t have been completed on a Sunday either."

Suffolk County Council is urging residents to plan their routes ahead, and notify schools or work if affected by the disruptions.

It is also urging bus routes to divert for the day while the work takes place.

A spokesman for Anglian Water said: "A section of the A1017 will be closed while our teams carry out essential work to connect new customers to the network.

"As always, we are required to provide a diversion route which is an equal road category to the road we are closing; traffic will therefore be directed via the A12 and A134 with clear signage in place.

"We thank customers for their patience while we carry out this essential work."