CONCERNED residents have called for a drastic change to an ‘unfair’ A12 diversion which passes through a village.

An Ardleigh Parish Council meeting heard how the diversion for A12 works is causing residents to lose sleep.

Due to roadworks, A12 traffic from Marks Tey is being diverted via the village from 9pm to 6am on week nights.

The traffic is sent through Ardleigh, Lawford and Manningtree, in order to clear the road for repaving and reparations to the central barriers.

During the council meeting on Monday, several points were raised regarding the disturbances the diversion has brought.

Concerns centred on the noise caused by traffic with residents complaining of motorbikes travelling down the street at ‘ungodly hours’ and loud noise from HGVs.

One concerned resident speaking at the Ardleigh Parish Council meeting said: "This has become quite a nuisance for all of us, there has to be a better solution."

Also speaking at the meeting, another resident said: "I have been woken up by this most nights, this is very unfair on us. I am disappointed we can't come to a solution."

Martin Whitely, of Ardleigh, said: “My daughter is taking her GCSE's this year. I am obviously concerned that she is suffering with disturbed sleep, when she should be concentrating on getting rest and a good nights sleep, before getting up to take her exams.

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“It definitely wakes me up at least two or three times a week. It would wake anyone up who isn’t a deep sleeper.

“It’s getting worse now we are coming into summer, as of course we want to sleep with the windows open, but we can’t.

“A huge number of people are suffering every working night due to diversion, its unfair to impose the same group of people for six months.”

The decision ultimately lies with National Highways and Mr Whitely said he had contacted them proposing a new route.

Mr Whitely says his route would take traffic from the A12 to the A120, arriving at the same point in Lawford.

A spokesman for National Highways said: "The diversion route on the A137 was discussed and agreed with local authorities as the most appropriate option to take the volume of traffic from the A12 while this essential maintenance work is carried out. Other alternatives were not suitable for the weight of traffic.

"In response to concerns from residents in Ardleigh we will continue to monitor the situation and see what practical measures can be put in place to mitigate these issues."