I don’t think that I am the only person to have noticed that the traffic situation in Sudbury has got a lot worse in the last few years. Last week I sat for a long time trying to get into town, and it is often a problem leaving the Station car park. Just parking is difficult,at times, and the flow of juggernauts seems to be increasing. This is before much of the development planned in the area begins. There must be a concern that the infrastructure currently in place is simply insufficient to cope with future demand.
This is not a problem that is restricted to Babergh, as is evidenced by the picture above from Shropshire. The Royal Town Planning Institute (whose website is well worth a look for those interested in these things) considers that the United Kingdom as a whole has a ‘sustainable infrastructure gap’ which will in the short term lead to unacceptable congestion and inconvenience, and ultimately impede further economic growth.
This is not a problem that is restricted to Babergh, as is evidenced by the picture above from Shropshire. The Royal Town Planning Institute (whose website is well worth a look for those interested in these things) considers that the United Kingdom as a whole has a ‘sustainable infrastructure gap’ which will in the short term lead to unacceptable congestion and inconvenience, and ultimately impede further economic growth.
But what are the local issues?
Support for the western by-pass for Sudbury is clearly stated in ‘Positive Action for Babergh’ the Conservatives’ Manifesto for the May election. The by-pass, if built, will greatly relieve the mediaeval centre of Sudbury. It is, however, unlikely to do much for outlying areas where traffic growth may in fact be encouraged by this improvement of road links in the area, creating new and damaging bottlenecks.
Power and water is also a concern. A recent article in the Times, ‘No power means no residents’, described how housing and regeneration projects are being jeopardised because of the failure of utility companies to keep up with demand. In the light of the proposed 90 or so houses at the Piggeries site, an activist in Great Waldingfield has been investigating the question of water supply and sewage in the area. Speaking to Anglian Water she has discovered real issues particularly in the area of sewage. The plant in Great Waldingfield which also serves Acton, Little Waldingfield and Newton, is already running to capacity. (If it hadn’t been for the U.S. forces in World War Two incidentally, it wouldn’t be there at all.)
Although measured development is healthy and essential, pressure from Central Government, adopting a ‘one size fits all’ and ‘plan and predict’ approach, seems to be resulting in a degree of development that many believe is running well ahead of the ability of the area to sustain it. At present I simply do not know to what extent Babergh District Council can resist further demands from the centre for more and more building, but I do know that if the area’s unique qualities are to be maintained an element of resistance is necessary!
Power and water is also a concern. A recent article in the Times, ‘No power means no residents’, described how housing and regeneration projects are being jeopardised because of the failure of utility companies to keep up with demand. In the light of the proposed 90 or so houses at the Piggeries site, an activist in Great Waldingfield has been investigating the question of water supply and sewage in the area. Speaking to Anglian Water she has discovered real issues particularly in the area of sewage. The plant in Great Waldingfield which also serves Acton, Little Waldingfield and Newton, is already running to capacity. (If it hadn’t been for the U.S. forces in World War Two incidentally, it wouldn’t be there at all.)
Although measured development is healthy and essential, pressure from Central Government, adopting a ‘one size fits all’ and ‘plan and predict’ approach, seems to be resulting in a degree of development that many believe is running well ahead of the ability of the area to sustain it. At present I simply do not know to what extent Babergh District Council can resist further demands from the centre for more and more building, but I do know that if the area’s unique qualities are to be maintained an element of resistance is necessary!
