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Aldham and Elmsett, near Hadleigh, angered by latest delay in repairing collapsed road as closure of The Street reaches eighth month




Frustration has reached fever pitch in a Suffolk village, following further delays to repairing and re-opening a collapsed road – leading to accusations of ‘abysmal project management’.

Suffolk Highways confirmed that repairs to The Street in Aldham, scheduled to begin this month, had been pushed back yet again, due to the presence of protected nesting birds.

The works are now expected not to start until September, in order to comply with the Wildlife and Countryside Act, which prohibits activities that can affect wild birds during nesting season.

The Street, in Aldham, near Hadleigh, will remain shut for the next few months after it collapsed in November. Picture: Jenni Green
The Street, in Aldham, near Hadleigh, will remain shut for the next few months after it collapsed in November. Picture: Jenni Green

It is the latest in a series of delays to fix the road, which has been shut since last November, after the side of the carriageway caved in, as a result of storm damage.

The announcement has been met with dismay in both Aldham and Elmsett, having already experienced heavy disruption over the last eight months.

Aldham Parish Council chairman Jonathan Ralph explained that residents have also had to deal with road closures on the diversion routes, which had “compounded their misery”.

He told SuffolkNews that there was also uncertainty as to whether nesting birds were actually present, and that poor communication from Suffolk Highways had been a persistent issue.

“They don’t seem very certain – just that they might be nesting,” said Mr Ralph. “The feeling is they don’t know.

“We very much doubt that we’ve been dealt with straight, because they still haven’t given a firm date for when the repairs will be done. We really don’t believe everything we’re being told.

“Any project manager worth their salt would have identified this issue and dealt with it earlier. The lack of project management has been a real let-down.

“There’s absolutely no accountability. No-one is standing up and taking responsibility – they are just buck-passing.”

Responding to concerns, Suffolk County Council’s cabinet member for operational highways, Paul West, said it was ‘regrettable that the scheme has needed to be delayed’.

He said the presence of nesting birds was determined on the ‘balance of probabilities’, but it was impossible to meet the test of ‘beyond reasonable doubt’ without causing disturbance.

“Our ecologist did visit the location close to dawn and scope the site,” said Cllr West.

“The birds observed were individuals, not flocking – this indicates that one adult is foraging, whilst the other tends to the nest.

“In terms of next steps, Suffolk Highways are meeting with ecologists to understand what other species might be in play around September, and plan for what risk these could pose, along with what mitigation measures may be put into place to reduce any risks.

“Suffolk Highways are committed to repairing the collapsed road, but do recognise the impact that the recent setback will have on the local community.”