BOROUGH chiefs in Ipswich are tomorrow set to object to proposals to improve the rail line to Felixstowe port - even though they want the work to go ahead.

BOROUGH chiefs in Ipswich are tomorrow set to object to proposals to improve the rail line to Felixstowe port - even though they want the work to go ahead.

Ipswich council's executive meeting is being recommended to give its blessing in principle to the work because it would take lorries off the major roads in the county.

However they are being advised to object in order to try to get changes to the proposals which could cause further disruption to some Ipswich residents.

The Felixstowe Dock and Railway company wants to dual much of the line to the coast and wants to improve the Ipswich freight yard, just to the north of the station.

Those changes would allow rail companies to increase the number of trains to the port from 24 a day to 36 by the year 2020.

However residents of Ramsey Park, off Ancaster Road, have objected to the proposal because they fear it will lead to more diesel locomotives using the fuelling point near Ipswich station.

During the winter, locomotives stored here have to have their engines revved up every hour throughout the night to prevent them from seizing up.

Residents fear that more engines will cause more noise and vibrations.

The report to the executive points out that the fuelling point is not included in the application - but the changes could increase the amount of rail activity by 50 per cent causing a significant increase in noise and disturbance.

By lodging an objection, the council hopes to force the applicants for the improvements to look again at likely disruption to residents and come up with ways of easing the process.

A council spokesman said: “We are very keen to see more use of the railway to get things to and from Felixstowe, it is much better than putting more lorries on the A14.

“But we have to try to minimise disruption to Ipswich residents, and by lodging a formal objection the applicants will have to look again at the problems.”