Protest for A140 roundabout lighting

Published: 2:11 PM February 12, 2009 Updated: 7:59 AM October 7, 2020

Worried villagers are holding a protest demonstration at the weekend to rally support for a campaign for lighting to be installed at the new A140 roundabout at Pulham Market.

The county council is spending �1.5million on the roundabout to a move to reduce the dangers at the notorious Pulham Crossroads which is a recognised accident blackspot.

However, the authority has rejected appeals from Pulham Market Parish Council which is calling for the junction and new lay-bys to be lit on the grounds of road safety for both motorists and pedestrians.

Parish councillors first voiced concerns in August last year, before work on the project began. And with the roundabout nearing completion, they are gearing up the campaign by staging a demonstration at the village green at 11am on Saturday.

You may also want to watch:

Ann Ford, parish council vice-chairman, said: 'We decided to go ahead with this protest to raise public awareness and we are also going to put up a petition.

'Taking out the lights seems to be a retrograde step, and they (the county council) obviously have doubts or they wouldn't be putting the cabling in and saying they will review the decision. Will it take a nasty accident for them to have a review? It is very frustrating.'

Mrs Ford said the campaign has the support of South Norfolk MP Richard Bacon, and local county and district councillors Fran Pitt-Pladdy and Keith Tilcock.

Mr Pitt-Pladdy last month challenged the decision not to fully light the roundabout at a county council meeting, but he was assured that the issues raised had been given very careful consideration.

County council spokesman, John Birchall, said many people are concerned about the use of street lighting in rural areas. Safety audits are always carried out once a road becomes operational and there is the possibility of adding lighting, if considered necessary, at a later date.