BUNGAY Town Council is taking a look at another one-way traffic scheme aimed at helping to relieve congestion in and around the town centre.A number of ideas have been put forward in the past - the latest one, drawn up by town councillor Simon Thompson, will be considered by the traffic management committee on Monday evening.

BUNGAY Town Council is taking a look at another one-way traffic scheme aimed at helping to relieve congestion in and around the town centre.

A number of ideas have been put forward in the past - the latest one, drawn up by town councillor Simon Thompson, will be considered by the traffic management committee on Monday evening.

As with previous schemes, the main thrust of it sees one-way traffic go northwards through St Mary's Street and southwards via Trinity Street, but it is measures surrounding that which Mr Thompson believes make it practicable and worth serious discussion.

It envisages both zebra crossings in St Mary's Street being controlled by traffic lights - only one is at present.

The pavement outside St Edmunds Primary School would be widened and have a proper safety fence, and a traffic-calming system in the street, involving a chicane system, would prevent traffic travelling at speed through the one-way system.

Heavy vehicles are not allowed into Bungay from the north, and Mr Thompson said: “To ensure that lorries over 7.5 tonnes don't accidentally come into town down Broad Street, a width restrictor would need to be placed on the east side of the road after the newly revised lorry entrances for Clays.

“The west side of the road would remain the same, allowing for the safe exit of lorries still allowed to travel from south to north.”

His plan also suggests a non-mandatory request sign situated on the southern approach to town. This would direct non-essential lorry traffic through Flixton if possible.

Further parking restrictions may be needed at the town end of Lower Olland Street and on Staithe Road to allow for a better flow of traffic, he added.

Another idea is a cycle route through St Mary's Street.

“An additional width restrictor may well be needed at the top of Flixton Road at the junction with Hillside Road West to ensure that any lorries heading into the town from the Flixton direction aren't tempted to try to come up Upper Olland Street instead of Lower Olland Street,” Mr Thompson said.

He said his plan illustrated how a one-way traffic system could be implemented in the centre of the town to alleviate many of the problems caused by the way the traffic was allowed to flow at the moment.

“As we have now been categorically informed that we have no chance of getting a north-south bypass, at least within the next 20 years, it seems to me that it's imperative that as a town we are creative in finding other solutions to our traffic problems,” he said.

“If the town council supports this proposal and all the proper procedures of public consultation take place with appropriate surveys and assessments, David Stiff (Suffolk County Council's integrated transport manager), who would be the budget holder for a project such as this, has said that this proposal could easily be achieved within two years,” he said.