A series of measures have been agreed to reduce flooding on a Suffolk road that is often submerged during periods of heavy rainfall or high tides.
Suffolk County Council's highways team has committed to improving the situation on the B1127 at Potters Bridge, near Southwold, by implementing better road signage, clearing and jetting drains and cutting channels into the verge to enable water to drain away.
The actions were agreed at a meeting between county council representatives and staff from the Environment Agency on Thursday.
READ MORE: Petition calls for solution at Potters Bridge near Southwold
In a joint statement, the council and agency said: “Officers from Suffolk County Council and the Environment Agency met to discuss the ongoing coastal flooding affecting the B1127 at Potters Bridge.
“Both bodies are working collaboratively on options to help alleviate flood risk in the area which will be consulted on in due course and led by Suffolk County Council.
“In the short to medium term a commitment has been made to help alleviate the issues here by Suffolk Highways improving road signage, clearing and jetting highway drainage and cutting channels into the verge to help water drain away from the road when there is heavy rain or a tidal surge.
READ MORE: Meeting will discuss flooding at Potters Bridge in Suffolk
“This will be supported by the Environment Agency’s ongoing efforts to keep the channel clear at the beach to allow water to flow to the sea.”
The situation with the road has been a source of consternation for motorists, with a petition calling for regular maintenance at the site attracting more than 1,000 signatures.
READ MORE: Southwold news
Rebecca Clatworthy, who launched the petition on the change.org website, called on Suffolk Coastal MP Therese Coffey to take action and recommended devising a plan for regular maintenance and proactive monitoring of the situation at the bridge to prevent problems arising.
The road is often flooded when water levels at nearby Easton Broad become too high and flood onto the road, rendering it impassable to traffic.
In November, the EADT revealed that a team from the Environment Agency had visited the broad to create a drainage channel to take water to the sea, but the movement of the sea would mean this channel would often become blocked again.
READ MORE: Suffolk news
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here