FUMES from ships, traffic and quayside operations at the Port of Felixstowe are becoming so bad special measures may have to be taken to improve air quality.

FUMES from ships, traffic and quayside operations at the Port of Felixstowe are becoming so bad special measures may have to be taken to improve air quality.

Emissions from ships' funnels, dredgers, cranes, tug vehicles, and the thousands of lorries visiting every day are causing concern.

Suffolk Coastal says measuring equipment shows the area around the port is just below acceptable limits, but at the Dooley pub, Ferry Lane, nitrogen dioxide is above the permitted level.

There is a similar situation at the Adastral Close housing estate, where it is feared increased activity from port expansion could lead to levels being exceeded by 2010.

It is feared problems in both locations will get worse in the years ahead and the council's environmental health team has started working with the port to look at how to reduce emissions.

Cabinet member Andrew Nunn said the council was also seeking ideas from the public on action to improve air quality.

“We have been regularly monitoring air quality around the port and have produced a detailed assessment for Felixstowe which takes account of when the port's expansion has opened,” he said.

“This has helped us identify that nitrogen dioxide levels could increase in 2010, in Adastral Close as well as at the Dooley Inn, but there are already proposed actions that could prevent that occurring.”

The port has told the council it is investigating installing electricity supply points for its mobile cranes and other vehicles to use when idling, a move which could mean air quality targets will not be breached in Adastral Close.

“Our latest reports have now been published and I would welcome the views of our residents on them,” said Mr Nunn.

“We may need to declare an air quality management area (AQMA) in Felixstowe for the Dooley Inn but that decision will not be made until February so it would be very helpful so it would be very helpful to have responses from the public to take into account alongside our technical data.”

Full reports on the air quality and details of how to give views can be found at www.suffolkcoastal.gov.uk

Are you worried about fumes from the port and lorry traffic blowing over Felixstowe? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail EveningStarLetters@eveningstar.co.uk