More than 1,100 supporters have signed petition objecting to a lay-by being shut, which could lead to a popular hot food outlet going out of business.

Macs on the Bridge, close to the petrol station on Wherstead Road, has been serving hot food and drinks for more than 27 years, but is under threat after Suffolk Highways and the county council issued a notice to say they were going to close the lay-bys, and put in a pedestrian crossing.

The proposals are part of Bellway Homes' Klondyke Field development on Bourne Hill, which was approved by Babergh planners in 2019.

The developer is required to work with Suffolk County Council, as the highways authority, to include a pedestrian crossing to provide safe walking access for residents from the development to the wider local area and school.

However, Samantha and Nick McNally, the owners of Macs on the Bridge are furious at the complete lack of proper consultation, and are seriously concerned the take-away outlet they have owned for four years will be forced to close.

A petition, both paper and online, was signed by nearly 1,200 supporters, with nearly 700 signing here and has been handed to Suffolk Highways, which will be passed on to Babergh, as the planning authority.

"We had sheets and sheets of signatures, as well as those online," Samantha told Nub News. "I didn't realise we had so many fans."

The couple, who are genuinely concerned their business will suffer to the extent they will be forced to close, and lose their £90,000 investment.

Nick said: "It is not an exaggeration to say we will not be able to continue if people can not park in the lay-by.

"We feed the work force, we have customers travel a 10 mile round trip to use us. We have people that work on the Shotley peninsula stop, and those who go into Ipswich."

Samantha also pointed out how their cafe had built up a loyal community with parents and neighbours using Macs.

She said: "It is not just tradesmen. We have people who live on their own and come over to have their main meal with us, just so they can speak with other people too.

"It is little community, it is like Eastenders, with everyone coming together.

"It is awful what is happening, it really is."

One example is 95-year-old Arthur Pye who lives on the Strand and has been helping out at the cafe for 27 years.

Nick explained: "Arthur came along with the business. He comes in on his scooter, chops up mushrooms, makes tea, helps open up at 6am and he doesn't get paid, he takes his breakfast home and that's him."

One celebrity user is Ipswich Town striker Macaulay Bonne who has been going to Macs even before he became professional footballer.

Nick said: The girls have known him since he was a kid because he has been using so long."

The couple have built up the business and have been given food rating of five stars by food standards officers, the highest rating.

Samantha added: "We have just got it right, good staff, lovely customers so this has come as a kick in the teeth."

They ae also upset and frustrated by the council's attitude towards them and their concerns and have still not had any formal response.

Samantha added: "I am really disappointed that the council and Suffolk Highways have not acknowledged us at all and the first we knew of this was when they put the notices on the lampposts and it came as quite shock to us.

"It was as if we are not even there."

Nick added: "Even council workers and guys who work on the highways have told us they can't believe what is going on because they use us.

"They have said this is madness because it is so close to the petrol station, it will a dangerous place to put a crossing there."

"It is rude of them not to consult use.

"We will fight this all the way. They have done a lot of work drawing up plans and I'm worried they won't listen to us because we are small fry but we will not go away.

"If we can overturn this then Ideally we would like to upgrade macs, smarten it up and put a new cafe there."

In addition to customers using Macs, parents use the lay by, which is close to the bus stop, because it is a drop off and pick up for the school buses from as far as Colchester Grammar, East Bergholt High, Tattingstone primary and Holbrook High School.

None of the local authorities involved would comment on the petition specifically, or the concerns raised by Macs on the Bridge, residents or other users.

A Babergh District Council spokesperson, said: "As part of the planning conditions for the Bellway Homes Klondyke Field development on Bourne Hill, approved in 2019, the developer is required to work with Suffolk County Council, as the highways authority, to include a pedestrian crossing to provide safe walking access for residents from the development to the wider local area and school.

"Suffolk County Council is now working on proposals for the crossing following a recent traffic order consultation and will keep us informed on their plans."

A Suffolk Highways spokesperson said: "The Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) notice was issued to give businesses and residents the opportunity to comment or object to the proposals. The proposals are for a new pedestrian crossing which is to be provided by the new development - Klondyke Field, west of Bourne Hill, Wherstead."

Deadline for comments was on 15 February and Highways have said: "We will work with Babergh as the planning authority on reporting the findings and these will include the comments made by local businesses and those on their behalf so that everything can be taken into account."

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