EFFORTS are being made to set up an action group to fight to make the A14 a safer route in and out of Felixstowe for people living in and visiting the resort.

Richard Cornwell

EFFORTS are being made to set up an action group to fight to make the A14 a safer route in and out of Felixstowe for people living in and visiting the resort.

Campaigners say the dual carriageway is growing increasingly hazardous because of congestion, lorries overtaking, speeding drivers - and are worried about the impact of one million extra trucks a year using it when the port expands.

Town councillors have already called for a ban on lorries overtaking, and there has been concern that the A14 is the only route in and out of the town and a major accident could leave it cut off.

Rev David Miller said there was “huge concern” among residents and he had voiced these concerns to the police, Suffolk Coastal MP John Gummer, Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly and the ways Agency.

One of his main concerns is the frustration caused to other drivers by lorries going over their 50mph limit - with overtaking lasting several minutes, causing long tailbacks, because their speed limiters do not give enough extra acceleration to overtake other HGVs very quickly.

“When I asked for the number of HGVs prosecuted for speeding offences on the A14 between the Copdock intersection and the dock spur roundabout Suffolk plice gave the number of fixed penalty notices issued between January 2007 to June 2007 for all vehicles on the whole of the Suffolk stretch of the A14 as 174,” said Mr Miller.

“I would say there is more than this number of speeding HGVs on the Ipswich to Felixstowe stretch blatantly breaking the speed limit in any one hour.

“With future plans for port expansion being recently approved by Suffolk Coastal council many more HGVs will be flooding our overstretched only main entrance and exit route.

“It is now time for a residents' action group to take up this matter to ensure a safer route to our town.”

He said the aim was to call a public meeting to form the group, which would be non-political.

Anyone who would like to support an A14 action group should call David Miller on 01394 214272.

Do you think the A14 between Ipswich and Felixstowe is becoming more dangerous or frustrating? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail EveningStarLetters@eveningstar.co.uk