Felixstowe drivers call for A14 action

PEOPLE living in west Felixstowe are today calling for action after getting trapped on their estate by lorries queuing to get into Britain's biggest port.

Frustrated residents of Cavendish Park, Grange Farm and Orwell Green, and shoppers at the town's Morrisons store, are fed up with finding the slip road from the A14 Port of Felixstowe road blocked.

A combination of more lorries coupled with new traffic lights mean people from the estate cannot get onto the slip and up onto the dual carriageway.

Resident Richard Nicholls said: “Two days running I have been unable to get off Cavendish Park onto the A14 as it is jammed solid with lorries trying to get down the slip road to the depots and Dock Gate Two.

“It is nothing to do with high winds - just a road system that cannot cope.

“What will happen with port expansion?

“Surely it is about time this was sorted out once and for all.”

Some householders have voiced concern over access for emergency vehicles, but officials have said provision will be made for fire, police and ambulance to get through the traffic.

Although Operation Stack had to be put in place last week when high winds closed the port, this did not affect the slip road because it meant lorries are kept on the A14 and parked in the outside lane.

During the problems on Wednesday and Thursday the port said it was “experiencing excessive levels of road haulage traffic” and thanked drivers for their patience.

In the next 15 years the port is expected to expand dramatically with a £240million extension - with one million extra lorries a year visiting its terminals.

A special booking system for hauliers is to be put in place which will give truckers appointments to deliver their loads and help spread the port's workload throughout the day.

n What do you think the solution to the traffic problem is? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail EveningStarLetters@eveningstar.co.uk