A14 flooding: Newmarket puddle gets own Tripadvisor page

A flood hit section of the A14 that has caused miles of tailbacks has attracted joking reviews on Tripadvisor from frustrated drivers.

Now branded the “Newmarket Puddle”, the flooded stretch of the A14 eastbound between junction 37 at Newmarket and junction 38 at Red Lodge has hit number 10 in a list of “things to do” in the town.

National Highways contractors have been working to remove the flooding for over a fortnight and more than 12 million litres of water have been pumped away since last week, roughly equivalent to five Olympic-sized swimming pools. But, the puddle remains.

Listed under “bodies of water” on Tripadvisor, one review, titled “Excellent parking facilities”, states: “Now living just a stone’s throw from this latest attraction on the Cambridge/Suffolk border, I just had to get down there. But apart from the extensive parking facilities, literally miles and miles of vehicles, I was sorely disappointed. The abundance of artistically placed cones were in desperate need of repair. There were numerous men stood around who could have facilitated their refurbishment but they were mesmerised just staring into the lake.”

Meanwhile another visitor marvelled at its “magical powers”, stating: “I stumbled upon The Newmarket Puddle during a day trip. I was due to go to Bury st Edmunds but was persuaded to stay by the sheer majesty and vastness of the water. They say it has magical powers - it’s taken away and then returns almost immediately. When I left I felt refreshed and revitalised. When I looked in the mirror I had however visibly aged. The queues were long. But I feel worth the wait. The only reason I didn’t score it full marks is that there were no concessions and no toilets.”

Another driver reflected on how the puddle had “brought the community together”, saying: “Last week I lost 10 hours of my week queuing to see it, so this week I’ve worked from home to avoid it. So mixed bag, incredibly angry last week, rather enjoyed this week. In summary, avoid and you’ll be happier. Has given everyone in the area something to talk about other than the weather and has even given Matt Hancock something to say.”

It has quickly become a talking point for many visitors, one noting: “Forget horses, this is the most talked about and most visited site in Newmarket!

“Attracting visitors from across the East of England, allow a good hour or two for the best views

But in spite of the “majestic lakeside views” mentioned by some visitors, you can’t please everyone.

“Definitely the most visited attraction in Newmarket - if the most hated! Want an extra hour added to your trip, visit the puddle. Want to be angry for the next week, talk about nothing else - visit the puddle! Or don’t - really, don’t.”

A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said: “We are currently working with partners at National Highways around the flooding issues on the A14 at Newmarket.

“Following the exceptional rainfall in the area over the last few months, the ground is very saturated and groundwater levels are high.

“We currently have a groundwater flood alert in force for areas of Newmarket.”

Further information is available from National Highways by visiting trafficengland.com.