Everything you need to know about A143 roadworks in Stanton

Calls have been made for an emergency plan to deal with future closures of a troubled stretch of the A143 after months of disruption for businesses and residents.

The road between Stanton and Ixworth has suffered repeated surface problems and closures throughout 2026.

Businesses in Stanton have been particularly affected, with some reporting cancellations and saying the disruption has left them fighting for survival.

Here is everything that has happened so far in 2026.

Five closures on A143 since May

The A143 Blackbourn Resilience Group says there have been five unplanned closures since May, with the disruption affecting Stanton and surrounding villages.

According to a letter from the resilience group, three of the five unplanned closures were caused by heat-related damage to the road surface in May, June and August.

Two more closures followed road traffic collisions in September and October.

There have been five unplanned closures on the stretch of the A143 between Ixworth and Stanton since March (Image: Newsquest)

The group says problems have been made worse by motorists ignoring official diversion routes.

Instead, large volumes of traffic, including HGVs, are said to have travelled along unsuitable rural roads through nearby villages.

Emergency plan demanded for future A143 closures

With concerns continuing despite previous repair work, the A143 Blackbourn Resilience Group is calling for a public meeting involving Suffolk Highways and other agencies.

The group is spearheaded by local elected representatives including Suffolk County Councillor Harry Richardson and other district and parish councillors.

It wants the organisations to agree on a “robust and workable” emergency plan setting out how future closures will be handled.

The group says improvements to communication and signage discussed with Suffolk Highways earlier this year have not materialised.

It claims signage remains inadequate, while communication during closures has been minimal or non-existent.

Further temporary repairs planned

Suffolk Highways has announced plans to carry out temporary repairs on the worst-affected sections of the A143.

Road space has been secured between 8pm on Saturday, October 31, and 5am on Sunday, November 1, although highways teams expect a full closure will only be needed for a few hours.

National Highways agreed to a request for traffic to be diverted onto the A14.

Signs saying “Road unsuitable for diversion traffic” will also be installed on nearby roads in an attempt to discourage drivers from using unsuitable routes.

Suffolk Highways investigating cause of road problems

The underlying cause of the recurring deterioration has not yet been established.

Suffolk Highways said further testing would be carried out, including taking core samples from affected areas of the carriageway.

The testing is intended to establish the cause of the problems and help identify the most effective long-term solution.

The findings will then be used to develop a future programme of works on the road.

How have the A143 closures affected businesses?

Months of disruption on the A143 around Stanton have taken a heavy toll on businesses, with traders reporting lost customers, cancellations and lengthy delays.

The road between Stanton and Ixworth has repeatedly closed during 2026 following problems with its surface, repair work and road traffic collisions.

Hillcrest Nurseries said the impact of the disruption had been “horrendous”, with customers deterred from visiting the area.

Sarah Fulcher-Arnold, from the nursery, said the business had lost customers through circumstances beyond its control and feared the road’s condition could discourage more people, particularly elderly visitors, during the winter.

At JG Services, owner Jordan Griffiths said the combination of A143 works and temporary traffic lights connected with a nearby housing development had “massively” affected the business.

He said customers had cancelled appointments, while congestion had at times meant it took more than an hour simply to enter the site.

Businesses have also complained about uncertainty over when the recurring road problems will finally be resolved.

Peter Prinsley, MP for Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket, has described the return of defects after previous repairs as “simply not good enough”.