County councillors took the sensible decision to throw out Brett Aggregates' plans for a quarry off the A134 between Newton and Sudbury.
Everyone over here, especially those of us who use that road a lot, know how dangerous it is.

The thought of 74 extra heavy lorries trundling out onto that stretch of road makes the blood run cold.

It's not officially an accident blackspot... yet. But had the quarry gone ahead it would have been within a short time.

Brett Aggregates now has the decision to take over whether to appeal or not. For the sake of everyone who uses that road, let's hope that if it does press ahead, it loses the argument again.

In the meantime, thanks to the councillors who voted unanimously against the plan.


Staying on the roads, I have been trying to snub the A134 as much as possible and at the same time turn a cold shoulder to the 106p-a-litre petrol we are offered in Sudbury.

The bike has been dragged from the back of the Crossley garage, air pumped into its unfashionably wide tyres and the Dennis the Menace bell polished to a shine.

Cyclists who tackle the A134, even without 74 quarry lorries a day, have my best wishes. You wouldn't catch me on it. Far too dangerous.
I favour the hedge-lined country lanes.

The eight or so miles each way – I know, hardly the Tour de France – provides a refreshing start and end to those days when it's convenient to cycle.

It's also a chance to see the changes going on – the fieldfares and redwings seem to have left for Siberia this week (and who can blame them with the weather we've been having).

Usually you can see or hear the occasional cars and get out of the way. But one lady did provide me with a new definition of fear last week.

It's a 4x4 whizzing round the corner towards you, taking up its customary three-quarters of the road, the low morning sun in the driver's eyes, a phone clamped to her ear... Luckily, one of us was awake.