Driveway opens on new park and ride

A CONTROVERSIAL multi-million pound park and ride scheme will open to the public tomorrow after being officially launched at a ceremony today.

The £2.8m project at Martlesham is designed to cut congestion and make it easier for commuters to get into the town centre from the north east.

Suffolk county council leader, Bryony Rudkin, was due to officially open the site at a ceremony today and the gates will open to the first cars at 7am tomorrow.

Ms Rudkin said: "This park and ride is a tremendous boost not only for Christmas shoppers travelling down the A12 but also for local traders and businesses. We want to encourage more people to use Suffolk's public transport network and this new route gives local people more choice in how they want to travel.

"Today's opening means we now have three easy ways to get straight to the heart of Ipswich, and it's never been more timely than now in the run up to Christmas.

"This third park and ride should ease the burden on all our busy lives whether we travel into Ipswich town centre for work or to enjoy its many shops and amenities."

The site is expected to attract up to 104,000 cars in its first year.

Permanent traffic lights have been installed at the roundabout at the junction of the A12 and A1214 and new lanes have been introduced in an attempt to make the traffic run smoothly.

There are also new lights on the A1214 to direct buses in and out of the site.

But the scheme has already come under fire from motorists and residents.

Worried drivers claim the roundabout is an accident waiting to happen and council officials have admitted changes need to be made.

Residents of the village are worried it will encourage drivers to 'rat run' through Old Martlesham.

The site will accommodate 530 cars in landscaped bays designed to blend in with existing trees and reed beds.

The journey into town will take 20 minutes and buses will run every ten to 12 minutes.