Plans for new unit at commercial site off A14 eastbound, between Elmswell, Woolpit and Haughley, shelved

Plans for a new unit at a commercial site off the A14 which attracted a swathe of council objections have been shelved.

The proposals from Mr G Lebbon for the commercial building by The Hungry Stag Café, off the eastbound carriageway at junction 47a, between Elmswell, Woolpit and Haughley were abandoned on Wednesday.

Elmswell, Haughley and Woolpit’s parish councils had all lodged objections to the application with Mid Suffolk District Council.

No reason for the withdrawal of the plans was given.

Peter Dow, clerk at Elmswell Parish Council, said the authority was against the plans as no indication of the scale or eventual use of the unit was given in the application.

He said the site was already over-full in terms of industrial use, with three catering outlets, which has stretched the car parking space at the site.

Mr Dow added the single access point of the site meant it was against traffic often travelling at, or in excess of, 60mph, and overflow parking would exacerbate the hazards from slow-moving traffic into the fast-moving stream off the A14.

Haughley Parish Council said Haughley New Street would be affected by the greater volume of traffic passing through and requested, if the plans were to be approved, a traffic management plan be implemented cover areas away from the site including the hamlet.

Woolpit parish councillors objected to the plans on grounds of overdevelopment and highways safety.

They said all of the traffic leaving the site, to access the A14, has to travel through a village, adding HGVs use unsuitable rural roads which cause danger to other road users.

At present, the site hosts the aforementioned café as well as an Indian restaurant, takeaway noodle bar and butchers.

Bacton Logistics has its headquarters just behind the site, on the Lawn Farm Business Park.