PROTESTORS have walked the route of the proposed East Bank Link Road, to see how it would affect Ipswich wildlife.About 100 people, including more than a dozen children, gathered at Bridge Wood on the outskirts of Ipswich yesterday, to follow the proposed route of the East Bank Link Road road to Sandyhill Lane car park.

By Tracey Sparling

PROTESTORS have walked the route of the proposed East Bank Link Road, to see how it would affect Ipswich wildlife.

About 100 people, including more than a dozen children, gathered at Bridge Wood on the outskirts of Ipswich yesterday, to follow the proposed route of the East Bank Link Road road to Sandyhill Lane car park.

The road aims to link the A14 and Raeburn Road South and is being proposed by Ipswich Borough Council.

The 40-minute walk, and another on Saturday, were organised by Suffolk Wildlife Trust, which strongly objects to the road.

Geoff Sinclair of Ipswich Wildlife Group said the proposed road would slice across several wildlife habitats, and fragment animal and bird communities.

He said: "Many birds will not nest near a road so they will be forced back, and some animal species can't cross the road safely so the new road would lead to the site becoming fragmented. The current plan would also create a tunnel of noise.

" We have spoken to hundreds of people here this weekend and well over half didn't know about the proposed road."

About 50 people had signed their objection to the road before the walk set off, and walkers were to be asked to add their signatures on their return.

Simone Bullion, SWT conservation officer brought her sons Alexander, nine, and Hamish, seven, to join in the walk.

She said: "If the road goes ahead permanent damage may be caused to wildlife sites, particularly in the Braziers Wood, Piper's Vale and Bridge Wood areas."