FOR years officials have battled against the scourge of fly-tipping.But now in Ipswich a new phenomenon is giving them headaches – fly-parking!Vehicles have started using the old Burton's site between Star Lane and College Street as an unofficial car park.

By Paul Geater

FOR years officials have battled against the scourge of fly-tipping.

But now in Ipswich a new phenomenon is giving them headaches – fly-parking!

Vehicles have started using the old Burton's site between Star Lane and College Street as an unofficial car park.

Now planning chiefs at Ipswich Council have warned that they could get tough with the site's owners if this continues.

"There's no planning permission for parking on that site – it's completely unauthorised," said Ipswich Council's head of development control Mike Smith.

"It's not suitable for parking – there must be a danger that drivers will damage their cars driving on there," he added.

The site has outline permission for stunning new development with 58 flats in a cascade design – with the historic Burton's building being converted into offices.

Architect Mark Wincer, who drew up the plans and is in regular contact with the site owners, said no one had permission to park there.

"I hadn't heard the term fly-parking before, but that's what seems to be happening there," he said.

He said the outline permission had been granted for the flats and expected the site to be offered for sale early in the new year.

"I am hopeful that work on the site will start before too long," he said.

Drivers may have been tempted to use the site following the closure of two other temporary car parks in the town over the last few weeks.

A temporary car park opposite the Princes' Street was closed so work could start on the town's new Crown Court building.

And work has started on a new housing development between Lower Brook Street and Turret Lane, leading the closure of another temporary park.