Call for 20mph speed limits is nothing new

Calls for speed restrictions in Sudbury town centre are nothing new, according to the chairman of a highways committee.

Giving his reaction to proposals by Luke Cresswell to impose a 20mph limit in Cross Street, Church Street and Friars Street, town councillor Tony Platt said it was something the town council was already looking at.

Mr Cresswell, who is to stand for election to the town council next year, has written to Suffolk County Council and hopes his plan could cut congestion and pollution.

“Mr Cresswell is knocking against an open door as far as Sudbury Town Council is concerned,” said Mr Platt, chairman of the council’s highways and footpaths committee.

“Residents will know that we have been campaigning for many years to alleviate the suffering of those living in the historic core of Sudbury, particularly Cross Street and Church Street, having requested both a 20mph zone or limit and the diversion of the strategic lorry route away from the A131, which passes through Cross Street.

“Both these measures are part of our holistic approach to solving Sudbury’s traffic problems.”

He said Graham Newman, the county council’s portfolio holder for transport, had refused to consider new speed limits as the zone did not meet certain criteria.

In recent months, Conservative councillors – led by their parliamentary candidate James Cartlidge – have been focusing on getting long-term plans for a western bypass for the town passed, with support from Mr Newman and county council leader Mark Bee.

A plan was also mooted by Mr Newman to build an A120 Braintree Freeport to Marks Tey A12 bypass route, suggesting it could stop some of the through traffic coming into Sudbury town centre.