A NEW multi-million pound link road from Ipswich's dockland to East Anglia's major lorry route would have a serious impact on wildlife and not solve the town's traffic congestion problems, according to a conservation group.

A NEW multi-million pound link road from Ipswich's dockland to East Anglia's major lorry route would have a serious impact on wildlife and not solve the town's traffic congestion problems, according to a conservation group.

The Suffolk Wildlife Trust is calling for people to register their objections to a proposed route to link the east bank of the River Orwell to the A14 near the Orwell Bridge.

The option is included in Ipswich Borough Council's new local development framework document which is currently open for public consultation.

It is not the first time the option has been proposed. In 2001 the possible building of the link road attracted more than 1,000 objections.

The proposed route of the link road goes through parts of the Orwell Country Park and the trust claims it would weaken the wildlife value of the adjacent Pipers Vale nature reserve and Ipswich's only ancient woodland, Braziers Wood.

The trust disclosed yesterday that nightingales and linnets - both nationally declining species - were now breeding at Elm Hill, which is on the line of the route.

Dr Simone Bullion, the trust's senior conservation officer, said: “Wildlife habitat would be fragmented and sites of local, regional and national importance, including two County Wildlife Sites and Ipswich's only ancient woodland would be utterly destroyed.”

Members of the public have until July 24 to register their views about the new development framework.