Is Westerfield Road ready for more HGVs — and an industrial pit? The evidence so far suggests not.
- Stop the Quarry at Westerfield
- Jun 6
- 2 min read
Updated: Jun 11
As the campaign continues to gather information about the likely impacts of the proposed pit, each new set of figures and photographs raises further questions. This is no longer just a matter of paperwork in a planning office — it touches on the safety, health and wellbeing of everyone who lives or works in the area.
We are concerned. We think you should be too.
If you share our concerns, please don’t stay silent.
✉️ Get ready to object when the application is submitted.
🗣️ Speak to your friends and neighbours to spread the word.
💪 Get involved and stand with the campaign - use the contact form on our website here to get in touch.
What the current evidence indicates:
📏 Measurements show Westerfield Road is already at capacity for HGVs
Preliminary measurements show Westerfield Road narrows to around 5.07 m in places through Westerfield and Witnesham. Given that some HGVs are almost 3 m wide, two such vehicles could struggle to pass safely without encroaching on verges or footways.
🚛 HGVs are already reported to mount the pavement to pass each other
Photographs taken by residents appear to show large lorries driving partly on the pavement — space that would normally be used by pedestrians, including children, parents with pushchairs and older people.
🚶♀️Footpaths appear to fall below recommended widths
In several sections the pavement is reported to be less than 1 m wide. Government guidance generally recommends wider paths, especially where wheelchair users, people with mobility aids and families share the space. Both villages also host care homes whose residents rely on safe, accessible pavements. If HGVs are required to mount the curb, the risk to those using the footpath could increase.
🚨 Accident history raises additional concerns
Publicly available data from CrashMap.co.uk records a series of traffic incidents on Westerfield Road, many concentrated near the crossroads. These occurred before any extra quarry‑related traffic could be added to the mix.
The planning application has not yet been lodged, and some details are still emerging. Nevertheless, the picture painted by the information currently in the public domain suggests the road network could face significant challenges if quarry operations proceed as outlined informally so far.
We will continue to review new documents and update our assessment as more material becomes available.
This is not just about traffic. This is about people’s lives, safety, and the future of our community.
Now is the time to act. The application for this industrial pit is expected any day, and once submitted, we will need everyone’s voice. Please stay engaged, spread the word, and support the campaign.
A scale drawing should be produced of the route which these HGV's could take between Valley Rd, Ipswich and the B1078 Ashbocking crossroads. This map should then be overlaid at all key locations with scale representations of HGV:HGV, HGV:bus, HGV:car + walkers on narrow footpaths to highlighlight the number of locations where this road simply is not wide enough for the vehicles / pedestrians to pass.
Key locations where issues will arise include the corner by The Swan, Westerfield, The Bridge in Witnesham, blind corner by the War Memorial, Witnesham, footpath adjacent to The Barley Mow, Witnesham & many more.
This map should then be made available to any objectors to ensure that Council Planners and Counsellors on the Planning…
These pictures that have been taken by a local resident are an absolute farce, they do show an HGV mounting the kerb but said HGV is only doing so as it's turning out of the new Bellway development on Westerfield Road, in any normal circumstance they wouldn't mount the pavement. Also I'd like to add that where this photo has been taken (directly outside the entrance to said Bellway Development) is due to be closed in the very near future for a whole carriageway reconstruction and widening. What's the difference in this quarry getting the go ahead to the 1000+ home development of Henley Gate?
Main Road/woodbridge Road definitely doesn’t need anymore traffic to congest our only road please have better sense than add to the traffic misery
Fully support this. No one in their right minds wants noise, heavy lorries and impacting house prices to name but a few objections to this quarry. The village of Westerfield and those surrounding need it stopped in its tracks!
Fully support the ban of the pit , let’s keep the beauty that we have