Upset over road closure on busy festival weekend

27 minutes ago

George Kingand

Jaimielee Rendall,Suffolk

News image — Sizewell C is making changes to the road network in East Suffolk as part of a programme of infrastructure improvements

Sizewell C An aerial image of a roundabout under construction. It is surrounded by trees, greenery, and mud. — Sizewell C is making changes to the road network in East Suffolk as part of a programme of infrastructure improvements

A festival has said it is "disappointing" that roadworks are still going ahead at the same time as thousands of people travel to two major events.

The A12 at Yoxford, in Suffolk, will be partially shut from 20:00 BST on Friday until 05:00 on Monday, so workers can put the finishing touches to a new road network.

The works, linked to the construction of Sizewell C power plant, take place over the same weekend as First Light Festival, in Lowestoft, and the Aldeburgh Festival.

Sizewell C apologised for any inconvenience and said the project would "make journeys safer".

Beckie Amer, the marketing and communications manager for First Light Festival, said Sizewell had been "very upfront" about it, so organisers were able to give guests "as much warning as possible".

"The festival takes place on the same weekend every year, so it is disappointing that these road closures are falling on the festival weekend," she said.

"It's obviously not ideal for our travellers and it is going to impact a lot of them, but we don't foresee it being a major issue given people travel from all over the county, not just along the A12.

"People travel in lots of different ways and we're hoping there are things in place which will ensure people can still get to us."

'Problematic'

The festivals attract tens of thousands of people from across the region, many of whom may now have to travel by train or via the diversion routes being put in place.

The closure will be in place between Friday Street and Blythburgh.

David Watson, co-owner of a camping and caravan park in Darsham, said the diversion could add up to 40 miles for drivers going northbound on the A12.

"We haven't had any cancellations [this weekend] over it, but it is just one more thing that is problematic, so we will be emailing them with the best route to take," he said.

Luke Deal/BBC A wide view of a newly constructed roundabout on a sunny day. A lorry can be seen on the right as it moves around the roundabout. Cones block off the outside lane. There are no clouds in the sky. — A new roundabout at Friday Street opened to road users earlier this year as part of a new road network linked to Sizewell C

Marjorie Barnes is the head of regional external affairs and development at Sizewell C, which is predicted to generate 3.2 gigawatts of electricity once complete in the mid to late 2030s.

"We fully acknowledge the disruption this can cause and we're very sorry, but it will leave Suffolk with a better road network as a result," she said.

"Our works have been planned to accommodate as many of the wonderful events that take place in Suffolk, but sadly we've not been able to miss this coming weekend."