Parents say safety concerns remain around new Lakenheath school after reopening
Suffolk County Council says some planned infrastructure around the new school has not yet been delivered, as parents raise concerns about pedestrian and cycling access
Parents say they remain concerned about children getting safely to and from a newly-opened Suffolk primary school, after it reopened following a temporary closure over road safety concerns.
Lakenheath Community Primary School reopened on Wednesday (30 September), after its governing body unanimously decided to temporarily close the new site.
Suffolk County Council said the closure was made with the safety of children, families and staff as the school's "number one priority", with urgent discussions held over reopening it as soon as possible.
But parents speaking to Greatest Hits Radio Suffolk say they remain concerned about pedestrian and cycling access around the school.
The county council has acknowledged some infrastructure around the site, including additional traffic management, has not yet been delivered.
It says nearby housing developments have not progressed in step with construction of the school and that some delays have been outside its control.
'I'm concerned one of the children is going to get hit'
Parent Ethel Williams said she believes road markings and signs should have been in place before pupils started at the new site.
She said: "I think it's a real shame that the council didn't have it organised before the school was open.
"They had enough time to get all the markings and signs in place before the kids started back on the 7th of September.
"And I think if they'd have sorted that, we wouldn't have the issues and the school wouldn't have closed yesterday like it did."
Ms Williams also raised concerns about the number of people using the same path at busy school times.
She said: "It's quite overwhelming and I'm concerned that myself or one of the children is going to get hit by somebody on a bike or a scooter because the path isn't wide enough to fit everybody on it."
She said she would like to see a wider path to provide more room for cyclists and pedestrians, as well as more parking closer to the school.
Ms Williams said she had not personally raised her concerns with the school but had spoken to other parents who shared concerns about their children getting to school safely.
Parent describes 'pandemonium' at school-run times
Another parent, Hannah Alanine, said her main concern was the wider cycling and pedestrian infrastructure around the school.
She said she had been surprised by the removal of a crossing so soon after the school opened.
"I was surprised to see that they'd taken it out because obviously it seems pretty fundamental to getting to a school," she said.
"But equally when you watch the cars like leaving the school and approaching the school, no one can get by at pick up and drop off anyway because there are just constant streams of children."
Ms Alanine, who said she usually cycles to the school with her son or daughter, described the situation at collection time as "absolute pandemonium".
She said: "They need to put provisions on the actual main road.
"I'm having to cycle with my son on the main road because we can't get through drop off and pick up and when you're a working parent you can't just take hours to get home, I need to get back.
"So I think they need to make some changes."
Ms Alanine estimated it takes around seven minutes to cycle home using the main road, while walking can take around 20 minutes at collection time because of the number of children leaving simultaneously.
What does Suffolk County Council say?
Suffolk County Council said some of the delays and concerns raised about traffic safety measures have been outside its control.
A spokesperson said: "The local housing developments not being in step with the building of the new school has meant that some infrastructure around the school site, including additional traffic management, has not happened yet.
"Highway staff continue to work with external agents, including the developers and landowner, to plan for those changes and resolve any outstanding actions."
The authority said a temporary pedestrian crossing on Station Road would remain until electricity is available on the land.
It said a permanent toucan crossing would then be installed by the developer, along with the correct signage.
The council also said the road on which the school is located is not an adopted highway, meaning its highways staff need permission before they can add road safety measures.
It said: "This process to add safety measures is proving to be timely and difficult to secure, but we continue to work with external colleagues to find solutions."
Suffolk County Council said a safety audit of the roads surrounding the school was carried out by Suffolk Highways before it opened and the results were shared with developers so they could help implement a number of recommendations.
It added that highways staff had spoken to police about parents' concerns over speeding vehicles on Station Road.
What measures are already in place?
The county council said the school has a looped drop-off area for parents at the end of Hepdon Road and that a school patrol officer is being recruited.
A footpath has also been created from Maids Cross to Barr Drive to connect the village with the new school.
A maintenance team is due to clear back the edging on the footway from Sharpes Corner.
However, the authority said the footpath alongside Station Road cannot be widened because the land outside the path is not owned by Suffolk County Council.
On concerns about increased parking, the council acknowledged peak school times can place additional pressure on surrounding roads and residential streets.
It has asked motorists to park safely, legally and considerately, with respect for residents, other parents and road users.
Bus service affected after new school opened
Problems around school-run times are also affecting a local bus service.
Coach Services says access to its Woodlands stop in Lakenheath has been restricted on the 80 and 80A services because of parked cars following the opening of the new primary school.
Since 28 September, buses have not been serving the stop before 9am or after 3pm, with passengers advised to use Briscoe Way instead.
Services continue to use Woodlands between 9am and 3pm, and the operator says the situation is being monitored.
Traffic concerns raised before school was built
Concerns about traffic and access around the development pre-date the school's opening.
In February 2024, Lakenheath Parish Council formally objected to the planning application for the new school, despite saying it was keen to see the project progress.
In a letter included in its official meeting records, the parish council said it had "serious concerns" which mainly centred on traffic arrangements.
It said it had provided Suffolk County Council with data from its Speed Indicator Device showing the volume and speed of traffic using Station Road.
The parish council also raised concerns about the proposed footpath and cycle path between Maids Cross Way and Barr Drive, including whether infrastructure would be ready in time for the school opening.
It concluded at the time that it did not consider the "traffic and safety issues" to have been addressed and objected to the application.
Traffic and speeding continued to feature in subsequent parish council discussions.
Minutes from October 2024 recorded discussion about signage required on Station Road once the new school was built, including whether a 20mph limit would be appropriate.
Minutes from January 2025 also recorded discussion about a timed 20mph limit and speeding on Station Road.
Why was the new school needed?
Suffolk County Council originally consulted on relocating and expanding Lakenheath Primary School because the previous 315-place site had no room for further expansion.
Its initial proposal was for a 420-place primary school and 30-place pre-school on land next to Station Road, with capacity for further expansion if required.
Earlier this month, the authority said the relocation and expansion had created 105 additional primary school places to respond to rising demand from Lakenheath's growing population.
The Department for Education's current register lists Lakenheath Community Primary School as open, with 282 pupils and a capacity of 315. The record was last confirmed on 14 September 2026.
We've reached out to the school for comment.