FURIOUS residents were left stuck in traffic queues for more than an hour after lorries caused gridlock on the A14 near Felixstowe.Urgent action was being sought today over how trucks are handled when the port is closed - after Operation Stack failed to work again.

By Richard Cornwell

FURIOUS residents were left stuck in traffic queues for more than an hour after lorries caused gridlock on the A14 near Felixstowe.

Urgent action was being sought today over how trucks are handled when the port is closed - after Operation Stack failed to work again.

High winds forced the port to close for safety reasons leaving hundreds of lorries to wait on the dual carriageway.

The trucks are supposed to queue in the outside lane but once peak time neared both lanes were blocked.

Drivers heading home after work had no choice but to go through the Trimley villages, where the volume of traffic plus road works in Walton caused massive tailbacks.

Resident Lynn Beal, who sent in her own pictures of the tailbacks said: “It took me one hour and 20 minutes to get from the A14 to Faulkeners Way.”

Gary Fayle, of Colneis Road, Felixstowe, said: “Why do the lorries sit in both lanes leading to the docks? They know full well that they should be in the outside lane. For the people of Felixstowe travelling home from work, windy days have been a nightmare.

“It would have been simple if the lorry drivers did not block both lanes - these lorries are becoming a blight on our towns.”

John Barker, chairman of Trimley St Martin Parish Council, said: “It was absolutely terrible - it was gridlock.

“I have written to the Port of Felixstowe today to stress that the good relationship which the port has enjoyed with the Trimleys might have been damaged almost irreparably in the eyes of the community by the events of yesterday.

“Urgent action is needed to ensure that there is no repeat of the failures we saw in Operation Stack last night.”

Part of the problem is that lorries do not move into the outside lane because they do not get enough warning to do so.

Police have also been criticised for not making use of the old A45 at Levington as a parking area for trucks.

The running of Operation Stack depends on the resources of both port police and Suffolk Police, whose officers are also on call for other emergencies.

n. Were you stuck in the tailbacks? Do you think the system needs to change? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or email eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk