Service station next to A14 closes … a month after being issued with stop notice by council

The controversial Elmswell Service Station, (pictured above) next to the A14, has closed.

The EG On The Move site was initially served with a temporary stop notice – a month after being told to shut immediately over road safety concerns.

But it continued to operate in the face of criticism from local people concerning the road layout and safety of the site and all the business have ceased trading.

They include the Spar convenience store, Greggs and Starbucks and will not reopen until at least Tuesday, March 4, following the closure measures taken by Mid Suffolk District Council on Friday (February 14).

They were all issued to cease operation with immediate effect as a result of the breach of condition notice served on EG On The Move Ltd on Thursday, January 16.

A spokesperson for Mid Suffolk District Council said: “When the site owner failed to comply with our previous notice to close until essential road safety measures have been carried out, we said we would not allow profits to be put ahead of safety and that we would consider further legal options.

“A temporary stop notice has now been issued on the site.

“We look forward to the services being able to safely reopen as soon as all planning conditions have been met, as required by planning law.”

EG On The Move said it had been working with the council and stakeholders to resolve the highlighted road safety issues.

A spokesperson for the firm said: “We respect the temporary notice served and have closed our Elmswell services site.

“This is disappointing considering all legal paperwork and agreements were in place to allow the necessary highway works to be carried out between Friday, February 28 to Monday, March 3.

“The Elmswell services will now reopen at 5am on Tuesday, March 4 once the necessary highway works have been satisfactorily completed.”

Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket MP Dr Peter Prinsley has visited the site and said he will continue to monitor the situation closely.

Cones and bollards have been placed at the entrance and exit  until the works are carried out.

There has been a lot of comment about the site from people on the nextdoor social media website.

One remarked: “Whatever the whys and wherefores of whose fault this was I can’t help but feel soothing for the staff. 

“We were the last to leave Starbucks just as the franchise owners (who have nothing to do with the site road layout) were frantically trying to figure out what to do. 

“The staff were told they needed to take mandatory holiday or move to Stowmarket cafe, not entirely without impact for teens without their own transport (I know there is a train…). The staff were particularly polite, apologetic and generous as we had to leave.”

Another added: “This is great news. These big players think they can walk all over safety rules and legislation. Feel for the staff though.”

And another commented: “What a thoroughly reprehensible position for the owners to put staff in.”

Other comments said: “The site should not have been allowed to open until all signage and safety matters were in place. I feel for the staff and the franchise operators.”

And another: “I’m desperately sorry for the staff caught up in this, but the owners must have been mad to try and stay open in the circs – if there had been an accident, their liability would have been massive.”