'Horrendous' speeding issues in Mildenhall, Freckenham, Worlington and Tuddenham dominate Suffolk Police public meeting

Concerns over motorists speeding through a town and its surrounding villages dominated a police meeting with residents.

Antisocial behaviour and community engagement were also major topics discussed at the gathering at Mildenhall Hub but with the majority of concerns focused on speeding especially in the smaller villages such as Freckenham, Worlington and Tuddenham.

Residents shared their worries with Police and Crime Commissioner Tim Passmore and Acting Chief Constable Rachel Kearton.

One example mentioned was the slight bend coming on the B1102 outside Worlington Hall, where drivers have been recorded doing 'horrendous speeds', despite the limit being 30.

Another problem area was further along the road, as people drive from Freckenham into Worlington, where four people were killed in a car crash in 2015.

"The rural community need to feel safe, and something needs to be done about it," said a resident.

Mildenhall mayor and West Suffolk Cllr Ian Shipp suggested Queensway needed a mobile unit that tracks speeding, as well as units in Thetford Road and Brandon Road.

Mr Passmore said funding had been secured for two more speed enforcement vans, on top of the three they already have, to help reduce the problems in the area.

Another problem, relating to the Mildenhall Hub was pointed out by District Cllr Andy Neal, who voiced fresh concerns over the entrance.

Cars, coaches and lorries have to mount the pavement to make room for the police vehicles to get through, which is particularly dangerous for children walking to and from the school.

He said: "As you (police) have been relocated to the hub from the other side of the town, when there's an emergency it has and will cause serious problems and that entrance is endangering lives."

"At busy times, it can get very dangerous especially with kids walking about. Parents are dropping off kids in the Queensway estate and kids are walking across the road because it's a serious pain in bum to get in to the parking and back out again."

"You (police) probably get sick of it too."

The issue could be made worse by the 1,300 new homes that are set to be built on the road towards West Row past the hub.

The traffic at peak times means it slows down the response time of the police to potentially life-threatening incidents.

Inspector Connor Lyon, who is responsible for the Safer Neighbourhood Teams in Mildenhall, Newmarket and Brandon, and Richard Smith, community engagement officer for Mildenhall and Newmarket, also attended the meeting.

They noted that although antisocial behaviour was a serious issue in Mildenhall in December 2021 and January 2022, there have been a lot less incidents reported in the area since the summer.

However, requests were made for more police officers to walk about the town, but the Acting Chief Constable explained how, although they would love to send officers there, a lot more crimes take place in homes.

She said: "At the moment though, a huge amount of crime is now behind closed doors and a fifth of crimes we deal with is related to domestic related abuse."

The police representatives that were present agreed to try and increase community engagement after being asked for representation in local meetings.

Mr Passmore said that Suffolk Constabulary was the third lowest paid constabulary in the country, but had the third highest detection rate of crime, and that their total budget for 2022/2023 was £161.3m.