AFTER the noise of the rock deliveries, seafront residents at Felixstowe are today bracing themselves for the sound of piling work - at the double.

AFTER the noise of the rock deliveries, seafront residents at Felixstowe are today bracing themselves for the sound of piling work - at the double.

Contractors working on the £10 million sea defence scheme are preparing to start some repairs to the sea wall as part of the project, while at the port work is to take place on an expansion scheme.

Earlier this year, residents all along the seafront were angry after the delivery of tonnes of rock kept them awake and shook homes.

Householders said when the rocks were tipped out of the barge onto the shore at high tide in the middle of the night the sound was so loud it woke them up, vibrating buildings so that items fell off shelves and fuelled fears over structural damage to properties.

However, since the deliveries have moved further south towards Landguard, most people say the situation has eased considerably.

Gillian Moseley, of South Hill, who sits on the residents-contractors liaison committee for the sea defence work, said: “It is nowhere near as bad now as when they were delivering the rocks just near the pier.

“But very soon they are starting the work on the pile driving and we are worried about what that will be like. It is not right that we should have to suffer and have all this worry over our homes.”

Contractors Team Van Oord said piling would be part of work to install 6.5m steel sheet piles along 160 metres of prom from Platters Road to Beach Station Road, where the prom started to collapse due to erosion, and would take about three weeks.

“Due to the nature of piling activities there is likely to be some noise and vibration caused by the works,” said a spokesman. “To minimise disruption, piling works will be restricted to daylight hours.”

At the port, preparatory work is taking place for the creation of a new deepwater terminal.

Piling is taking place to create a temporary pontoon for tugs which will no longer be able to use the Dock Basin, plus test piling.

Head of corporate affairs Paul Davey said: “The hours for the piling will be very restricted and the work will not be taking place throughout that time.”

Have you been affected by the rock deliveries? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail EveningStarLetters@eveningstar.co.uk