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Increasing traffic 'could cause a fatal accident'
VILLAGERS at Stoke by Clare, near Haverhill, fear someone could be killed unless measures are taken soon to tackle traffic speeding along the A1092 past their homes.
Despite a 25 per cent increase in traffic over the past two years, villagers say there has not been a single speed check during that period.
Gordon Hatchett, Town council chairman, said they called MP Richard Spring to the village to discuss the problem after being told that a legal/technical problem meant Suffolk police were unable to enforce the speed limit in Stoke by Clare and other villages.
Mr Hatchett said: "There is a major problem with the increase in traffic; we are on an A road with a lot of traffic coming through. There have already been several non-fatal accidents and there is going to be a really serious one before long.
"As we understand it there seems to be some sort of stand-off, which is all very well, but during this time the road is getting more dangerous. It seems that for some sort of administrative or legal reason they cannot enforce the speed limit.
"There is a lot of heavy traffic cutting through to the M11 and we don't want to wait until sooner or later there is a major disaster."
The picturesque village has just over 500 residents and Mr Hatchell said the rebuilding of Ballingdon bridge at Sudbury was also bringing more traffic to the road.
Suffolk County Council has set aside funds for a traffic calming scheme, but Mr Hatchell says so far they have had no staff available to design it.
He has now been told that consultation work will start shortly to design a scheme for the village, which it is hoped will be in place by next year.
Mr Spring agreed to take up the issue with Suffolk County Council and the police, and to press for government clarification on the enforcement of speed limits.
He said: "Complaints about traffic through the villages in my constituency have regrettably become a regular feature of my work, and a source of much concern to many of my constituents."
Date : 15-09-2002
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