HIGHWAYS chiefs were today urged to take a long look at how Operation Stack worked during its first time at Levington - and make some changes.Overnight there were occasional short stoppages as blustery winds again buffeted Suffolk but today traffic was running smoothly.
HIGHWAYS chiefs were today urged to take a long look at how Operation Stack worked during its first time at Levington - and make some changes.
Overnight there were occasional short stoppages as blustery winds again buffeted Suffolk but today traffic was running smoothly.
But while the system - due to come into operation properly next month - ensured there was no gridlock on the Felixstowe peninsula, it caused major problems for businesses and residents in Levington.
Now a meeting is to be held on February 12 when the system will be outlined to villagers and they will give their views.
Under the system run last week, villagers and people travelling to work were banned by police from turning onto the old A45 off Felixstowe Road near the Seven Hills interchange.
At the other end of the road, there was a police roadblock which prevented workers reaching commercial chandlers EYE Co Ltd.
For many it meant driving round the backroads through Nacton and Levington village to reach home, or to Trimley interchange and then driving back towards Ipswich.
Residents in Morston Hall Lane found they had a seven-mile detour.
Jean Parkes said her husband David and son Scott both found their route blocked when they tried to travel to and from Ipswich using the old A45. While there was an alternative to get to Ipswich, coming back meant travelling to Trimley and turning round.
She said: “The police were not letting anyone through and it was a case of find another route - in our case a lengthy detour.
“This needs looking at. There is a lot of concern, too, about what will happen to the buses that go along there.
“It's unbelievable that they will not use the Orwell Truckstop right next to the A14 to park up these lorries.”
Is Levington the best site to park the lorries? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail EveningStarLetters@eveningstar.co.uk
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