THEIR name says Live and Let Live but pub landlady Tracy Aldred claims her trade is dying because her customers have been locked out by Ipswich Port.Mrs Aldred, who has been at the pub since September has been desperately trying to get the pub back on track ever since she took over.

THEIR name says Live and Let Live but pub landlady Tracy Aldred claims her trade is dying because her customers have been locked out by Ipswich Port.

Mrs Aldred, who has been at the pub since September has been desperately trying to get the pub back on track ever since she took over.

But the lorry drivers and dock workers were her main trade and now a special gate has been added and locked which has blocked the workers' access to Wherstead Road.

Mrs Aldred claims that she has lost the majority of her trade because of the gate.

She said: "The only thing that was keeping us going here was the port workers.

"I have lost about 80 per cent of my trade – we have gone from taking around £400 a day to £87."

But Robert Smith, port manager of ABP Port of Ipswich said the gate had been closed in response to the current security climate and to prevent unwanted people getting in.

He said: "It has been necessary for us to review all security arrangements.

"Staff used to be able to come in through an entrance near to the Live and Let Live but now everyone has to come in through the one entrance that is a camera controlled site.

"We have to improve security."

He said that security had been stepped up around all areas of the port and gates had also been added to the Greenwich Road side.

But for Mrs Aldred, the extra securities, which are a permanent measure, have slashed her mealtime trade and she has gone from selling around 40 meals a day to just eight.

She said: "Now they have locked the gate the workers have quite a hike to get here.

"It is about a half an hour walk and they only have an hour lunch break."

Mrs Aldred fears she now may have to lose some of her staff because she will not be able to afford to keep them on.

A three page petition has also been set up which Mrs Aldred wants to present to the Port in a bid to get them to change their mind.

She said: "We wanted to turn this into a community pub but we are not being helped at all by this."

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