Jenny Riddell-Carpenter, Suffolk Coastal MP, calls for all-agency meeting on worsening Potters Bridge, on the B1127 near Southwold, situation

The new Suffolk Coastal MP has called for an all-agency meeting to address the worsening situation on a flood-prone road, giving renewed hope to residents.

Potters Bridge, on the B1127 near Southwold, was shut for 10 days this month after water from the surrounding Easton Broad covered the road and left it impassable.

The road floods when the broad, amid heightened rainfall and lack of maintenance of the outfall to the sea, gets to too high a level, causing chaos for drivers.

The B1127 is an important road for residents in the area, providing a direct route to the James Paget Hospital. In the last year, 5,600 people signed a petition calling for action to fix the road and ensure rainfall does not lead to closures.

Jenny Riddell-Carpenter, Suffolk Coastal MP, said she had made several visits to Potters Bridge over the past few weeks and seen the effects of the flooding for herself.

“The recent road closures are highly concerning,” she said. “As we head into winter the fear and threat of further rainfall is ever present.

“People are rightly fed-up and are desperate for a solution. More rain – this year and over the next few years ahead – is near guaranteed as we experience milder, and wetter winters.

“We now need action, not words.”

Ward councillor David Beavan held a similar meeting in February where different agencies’ obligations were discussed. He expressed his hopes that Ms Riddell-Carpenter could get these agencies to fulfil them.

He said: “If she can get people to do what they promised to do that would be great.”

Cllr Beavan added, while a channel for the broad had recently been cleared by the landowner, it appeared to have become blocked again, thus the need for action to prevent another road closure was heightened.

John Huggins lives in Southwold and welcomed the new MP’s interest in finding a solution to the flooding at Potters Bridge.

He said Ms Riddell-Carpenter had met with himself and other residents who have been pushing for a solution for some time, as well as visiting the site itself to get a better understanding of the challenges.

He said: “We even took her round the alternative route through Wangford, to show it’s not suitable for the volume of traffic when the B1127 is closed.

“We’ve never had this level of interest before and it has given us renewed hope that we may find a solution.”

The Environment Agency confirmed the landowners had recently carried out work to drain the marshes and water levels on the Easton Broad were reducing.

It also confirmed it had agreed to jointly meet with the new Suffolk Coastal MP.

A spokesperson said: “We are working collaboratively with Suffolk County Council and Natural England and have agreed to jointly meet with Suffolk Coastal MP Jenny Riddell-Carpenter to discuss the management of the site further.”

The spokesperson added the road is at risk of regular fresh and seawater flooding as it is low lying and undefended.

Suffolk Highways and the county council have liaised with Ms Riddell-Carpenter, and welcomed a multi-agency meeting.

A spokesperson said: “Suffolk County Council welcomes a multi-agency meeting to further discuss the ongoing challenges of flooding on B1127 Potters Bridge.

“The council is committed to additional highway drainage maintenance and options to improve signage.”