Nottinghamshire County Councilllor for Farndon and Trent division Sue Saddington hands in resident petition to install permanent traffic lights on Hawton Bridge over road safety concerns

A petition to take action on village residents’ concerns over traffic safety has been submitted.

Sue Saddington has presented a petition urging Nottinghamshire County Council to install permanent traffic lights on Hawton bridge, Hawton, to address concerns from residents about road safety.

Ms Saddington, who represents the Fardon and Trent division which includes the small hamlet of Hawton, said that there was a need for lights due to an increase in traffic in the area.

The petition was signed by residents of Hawton and neighbouring villages, including Farndon, Thorpe, and Elston — it calls for the immediate installation of permanent traffic lights on either side of the Hawton bridge to prevent congestion and ensure safety as traffic inevitably increases.

She added that large construction projects such as the Newark Southern Link Road had transformed the quiet village into a “key traffic link”, connecting Farndon, Newark, Middlebeck, and Balderton.

Upon handing the petition in, she said: “Hawton has, through no choice of its own, become part of three villages and Newark.

“The single road through the village is already seeing an increase in traffic, and it’s only going to get worse once the Southern Link Road opens.

“Without intervention, we are setting the stage for serious accidents, or worse. I am on a mission to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

Temporary traffic lights were installed on the Hawton bridge during construction of the Southern Link Road, which features a sharp blind bend and narrow passage.

Ms Saddington argued that these temporary lights were “invaluable” in making the area safer for both motorists and pedestrians. Without permanent traffic lights, she predicted that there would be more severe traffic queues and an increased risk of accidents.

“While the temporary lights were in place, it was excellent and promoted safe driving — now they’re gone, residents are rightly worried,” she said.

“We cannot wait for accidents to happen before taking action. We’ve already seen one car overturn into a resident’s garden, and the risk of drivers ending up in the river is real.

“We’ve seen it before on Kelham Bridge, and I witnessed it first hand.

“We must give this issue the attention it deserves. Installing permanent lights is not just a local request—it is a necessity to ensure safe driving and walking for everyone.”