Traffic problems in Old Buckenham

 It takes a village…

This email came in for the February village newsletter during the recent difficulties of getting to Attleborough because of problems on the B1077. It is from a group of people living in Fen Street: You may know the saying “it takes a village to raise a child”? Well, we believe “it takes a village to raise concerns affecting the village”.

What used to be. Fen Street is a pretty, single track lane teaming with wildlife. The traffic is sporadically light making it the perfect circular village route for pedestrians, cyclists, dog walkers, horse riders and family walks. At the Hargham Road end it is more densely residential with a 30mph limit whilst at the Puddledock End it is more sparsely residential with an unrestricted speed limit.

Current chaos. However, with the current chaos of road closures and inappropriate diversions in the village, can you even recognise the above description? We are sure that, by now, you have also suffered the inconvenience and frustration of trying to get from one end of Fen Street to the other either on foot or in your car.

Negative impact. The negative impact in terms of traffic, environmental destruction and village cohesiveness has been shocking. There have been queues, frayed tempers and cross words. There has been obliteration of verges, trespassing in driveways, accidents and damage to cars. Worse, the emergency services have been severely restricted in getting to their destinations.

It’s not your fault. The “Road Closed” signage from Attleborough has been inadequate with no indication that the Hargham Road is the alternative route. Keir Highways have somehow managed to divert all forms of traffic off a two-lane B-road onto a single-track unclassified road with no passing places!

Effect on the village. It is obvious to all of us villagers that Fen Street is the width of one car; it is completely unsuitable for two-way traffic; it is completely unsuitable for HGVs; it has blind bends making it dangerous; it has an inappropriate speed limit enabling new or inconsiderate drivers to travel too fast for the conditions; it is structurally inadequate for any vehicle over 7.5 tonnes. Villagers know that Fen Street can never be deemed an appropriate diversion route.

Keeping the village a village. Many of us believe that we need to keep the country lanes in the village pedestrian-friendly. That we need to keep verges for wildlife and pedestrians. That we need to have safe routes for our families to walk around and keep healthy. That we need to have places to walk without HGVs and speeding cars. Let’s come together as a village to ask the authorities to sit up and take note because “it takes a village to raise concerns affecting the village”.

It only takes two minutes. We would like to keep our village safe for families.

If you would like to comment that the speed limit in Fen Street is inappropriate; or that HGVs should take alternative routes; or that Fen Street needs to be kept as a safe walking route; or that Fen Street should not be used as a diversion route (or all the above!), then please spend just two minutes emailing all or any of the following (it is easiest to write one email and copy it to all those listed below!) and let's keep our village a village...together.

Norfolk Highways – highways@norfolk.gov.uk

Norfolk Council – luke.denny@norfolk.gov.uk

Breckland Council – planning@breckland.gov.uk

Stephen Askew – Stephen.askew.cllr@norfolk.gov.uk

Parish Council – oldbuckenhampc@live.co.uk