NOISY piling operations at Britain's biggest container port are set to continue for several months yet, it was revealed today.

Richard Cornwell

NOISY piling operations at Britain's biggest container port are set to continue for several months yet, it was revealed today.

Residents have been complaining about the thumping sound of the pile-driving work - part of the first phase of work on a new �250 million extension to the terminal at Felixstowe.

The Evening Star has been inundated with people asking when the noise will stop - with many more now aware of it because they are outdoors enjoying the warm summer weather and have windows open at home and work.

James York, community liaison manager for contractors Costain, said the company had only had a few complaints.

“We have been doing the piling since February but perhaps it is the warmer weather and people being off work on holiday which has made it more noticeable recently,” he said.

“The noise can vary enormously with the wind and also because of where we are piling with obstructions and echoes making quite a difference - for example, if there is a warehouse in the way it can change the sound.”

The vast majority of the work on the new quay wall out in the harbour is now complete with only 16 piles to go.

Mr York said work still needed to be done on the return wall to shore and crane rails.

“We don't expect to complete the piling until the back end of the year,” he said.

More than 230 of the outer quay wall piles - each 38 metres in length, 2.56 metres in diameter, and weighing more than 45 tonnes - are now in place.

More than 350 are needed for the 730-metre quay wall, the first phase of the Felixstowe south deepwater terminal project.

Are you annoyed by the piling noise? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.

FASTFACTS: Piling at the port

Percussive piling should not start before 8am Monday to Friday, and be completed by 6pm each day.

Between these times, there is no more than five hours piling each day.

Percussive piling on Saturdays will not start before 9am and will finish by 1pm.

There will be no piling on Sundays or bank holidays.