FAMILIES in Trimley St Mary have been assured that emergency vehicles will be able to reach homes when work is carried out to the station level crossing.

FAMILIES in Trimley St Mary have been assured that emergency vehicles will be able to reach homes when work is carried out to the station level crossing.

But shiftworkers or people returning from a late-night out will have to park their cars and walk home the last few hundred yards.

Parish councillors were concerned particularly about emergency access when the level crossing in Station Road-Cordys Lane will be closed overnight on April 17-18 for routine maintenance work.

Between 10.30pm and 7.30am there will be no access in or out of Cordys Lane.

Councillors have now been told though that provision will be made for fire, police and ambulance services and that running boards will be put down over the tracks if their vehicles need to get through.

But investigations into alternative routes for people living in the lane to be able to reach their properties have proved fruitless.

It had been thought that there might be a way of using tracks that lead down to the Parker Avenue business park near the port for vehicles.

But the county council has now told the parish council that permission will not be given for any unmarked tracks, or paths or bridleways, to be used as a temporary road.

The council is warning residents well in advance of the situation so that people can make alternative plans if they need to use their cars that night, and letters are being sent to all households.

The footbridge at the station will provide pedestrian access during the road closure.

n Do you have stories from the Felixstowe area? Please contact Richard Cornwell at our Felixstowe Newsdesk on 01394 284109 or write to him at 105B Hamilton Road, Felixstowe, IP11 7BL, or e-mail richard.cornwell@eveningstar.co.uk