FAMILIES who have been getting all steamed up about noise and fumes from old-fashioned travelling funfairs have been invited to talks over the problems.

FAMILIES who have been getting all steamed up about noise and fumes from old-fashioned travelling funfairs have been invited to talks over the problems.

Furious householders on Felixstowe seafront say it is unfair that they have to suffer each summer from the events – and want the council to try to find a new site on which to hold them.

Complaints have been made about fumes and smoke from the rides, noise from rides, generators and music disturbing their peaceful enjoyment of their homes, and say the events are unsightly and spoil their seaviews.

Most of those who have been upset by the fair live in Sea Road, the Undercliffe block of flats, and on South Hill.

Gillian Moseley, of the South Hill Area Residents' Association (SHARA), has asked Suffolk Coastal council to move the funfair to the south seafront.

Mrs Moseley told the public meeting into the proposed development for the 17-acre site that the land would be the best place for travelling fairs on a purpose-built outdoor arena.

"That way it could be taken right away from the area where residents live. I want to know if this has been considered because it seems an ideal opportunity to move these events," she said.

"Residents do not want a fair to be keep being staged outside their homes and having to put up with the problems and disruption it brings."

Tony Osmanski, Suffolk Coastal's assistant director of planning and leisure, said a meeting was due to be held this week with SHARA and the council solicitor to discuss the issue of the funfairs.

He said the council had done its best to deal with the residents' complaints and limit the impact of the events, which attract thousands of people to the resort.

"It is very difficult to generate resort activities and not have some disruption. We are not moving the funfairs to the south seafront," he said.

"The policy is to hold these events in the centre part of the resort. There are a limited number of funfairs each year and we try to stage them with the minimum impact on the residents while still providing enjoyment for visitors."

Residents have been battling to stop the events – which usually take place at either Pier Bight in Undercliff Road West or on the leisure centre car park over Bank Holidays or as part of the carnival or other major events – for four years. Many people, though, accept that if they choose to live on a seafront they must expect some noise from seaside activities.

However, changing lifestyles have meant more people involved in shiftwork and needing to sleep during the day, while some fairs have become noisier

The council says it has taken all the complaints very seriously and has worked hard to ensure generators are not near homes, that use of music is controlled, and that fair operators heed to set hours of operation.