Councillor calls Copdock roundabout changes "barmy"

10.00.00am GMT Fri 13th Nov 2009

Liberal Democrat County Councillor Kathy Pollard has described the latest proposed junction changes at Copdock Mill Roundabout as "barmy". The Councillor who represents the villages around the busy junction has been battling with the Highways Agency to improve safety at the junction.

The Highways Agency intend to put traffic signals on both the A12 Northbound, and A1214 southbound junctions, including the left slip roads at the roundabout, which would create significant and needless tailbacks. Previously the Highways Agency had planned to move traffic travelling north on the A12 towards Ipswich into the right hand lane, which would have caused long queues, and a great deal of potentially dangerous lane switching.

Commenting on the proposals Cllr Pollard said "After protests about the Highways Agency's earlier proposal which would have led to more accidents and further delays, I can't believe they have now produced an even worse design. This is simply barmy. There is absolutely no point in removing the left turn slip roads by putting in traffic lights. They should be making the slip roads longer instead. They have no data on current traffic volumes at the roundabout or on the alternative routes, for example the old A12. They need hard data before they draw up final plans. They also need to carry out better consultation with councillors and affected parishes. We have been asking for a meeting since early Summer, but none has been offered."

"For those of us who use this major interchange on a regular basis it beggars belief that these so called experts should produce such a crazy solution. It will lead to more tailbacks and more people will avoid using the roundabout altogether and rat run through local villages."