Residents have warned of a potential accident at a busy junction after a service station opened without meeting planning conditions to address safety concerns.
EG On The Move’s Elmswell services, between Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket, opened in December and includes a petrol station and Starbucks drive-thru.
One resident, who has lived in Woolpit for the last decade, complained there was no signage on a nearby roundabout, off the A1088.
The Drive-Thru Starbucks at Elmswell services. Picture: Suffolk News
The man, who does not wish to be named, said the services at junction 47 at the Woolpit interchange have caused a ‘multitude of issues for drivers’ who are not clear on the road layout and are trying to access the A14 incorrectly.
After submitting his complaint to Suffolk Highways, the man was told: “We can confirm the developer applied for permission with Suffolk County Council to carry out works on the entrance and exit to the new development.
“However, their submission was only very recent and they opened the businesses prior to carrying out the required highway works.
Concerns have been raised by residents in Woolpit. Picture: Suffolk News
“The development is in breach of planning and the planning authority has been informed.”
A spokesman for Mid Suffolk District Council, the planning authority, said: “We share residents’ concerns and take the welfare of the local community extremely seriously, including customers and staff at the site – safety must come first.
“Our officers have spoken to the operator and have been out to review and assess the situation, and we are now considering our next steps.”
In February 2023, Mid Suffolk District planning committee refused the planning application for the service station on safety grounds.
There are concerns the lack of signage will lead to road accidents on the roundabout off the A1088. Picture: Suffolk News
At the time the council’s consultants said the amount of traffic that would be generated by the petrol station had been underestimated by the applicant’s consultants.
The council’s consultants said: “This clearly has implications for the conclusions drawn about the capacity of the roundabout on the A1088 – particularly its interaction with vehicles leaving the development.”
However, the applicant had already lodged an appeal with the planning inspectorate, on the grounds of the council’s earlier failure to decide the application within the prescribed period.
The refusal was overturned on appeal by the inspectorate, with a number of conditions set to address the safety concerns.
EG on the Move were approached for comment.