Town is quieter since bypass opened, say locals

Nearly four months after a long-awaited bypass opened around a town people living locally have said the area is now quieter and cleaner.

Motorists were able to start using the new road that goes around Long Stratton, Norfolk, in August after the £46.9m project for the A140 was finished.

The bypass stretches for 2.4 miles (3.9km) to the east of the town and enables motorists to avoid travelling down Long Stratton's High Street.

Roger Bennington, the managing director of Stratton Automotive Services in the town, said the area "feels more like a village again".

Work on the A140, which is the main A-road between Norwich and Ipswich, started in April 2024.

The A140 used to be the main road through the centre of Long Stratton and is lined with shops, pubs, restaurants, a car and motorcycle dealership and other businesses.

Jamie Austin, the owner of The Chip Inn in Long Stratton, had been worried the bypass would mean fewer people stopping by for a fish supper.

However, the 48-year-old explained he has actually seen a small increase in trade since the road was completed.

"Not masses. But it has made life a lot easier for everyone and people seem a lot happier when they come in as well because they have not had to sit in a queue of traffic," he said.

Mr Bennington,79,said his business had not seen its car sales or workshop trade affected by the bypass.

Yet he added he had noticed a 35-40% drop in profits at their petrol station.

However, he added, he was not worried by the decrease.

"It is a lot but this bypass has been coming for 50 years so... we have been expecting it," he said.

He added that "there is always a knock-on effect" but said the advantage was a clean and tidy town.

Hazel Hallett, who lives in Long Stratton, said she was pleased with the new road layout, but that without the traffic she felt some cars had been travelling faster.

"The cars are going faster so something needs to be done about that. But it is much better," she said.

Norfolk Police's safety camera team said they had not received any complaints relating to the bypass since early September.

It added it had carried out a speed survey and found a high level of compliance.

Norfolk County Council also said that it had not received any direct reports relating to speeding in the area, but it would "continue to monitor the situation".

It also encouraged people to raise any speeding concerns with Long Stratton Town Council.

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