TRAFFIC is to be banned from three Felixstowe streets in a bid to stop them being used as rat runs to avoid a busy set of lights.Residents have become increasingly fed up with drivers nipping through their roads as a short-cut to miss the traffic signals at Beach Station Road-Langer Road, causing pollution and danger.

TRAFFIC is to be banned from three Felixstowe streets in a bid to stop them being used as rat runs to avoid a busy set of lights.

Residents have become increasingly fed up with drivers nipping through their roads as a short-cut to miss the traffic signals at Beach Station Road-Langer Road, causing pollution and danger.

They also claim that in summer and on Sundays, when the seafront market is on, they cannot park near their homes and the roads are heavily

congested.

Now Suffolk County Council is to make Nacton Road, Orford Road and Levington Road "residents only".

The ban on all other vehicles – except emergency services – is set to come into force this autumn.

Consultation on the idea is currently taking place but any objections or

representations must be with Paul Harris, assistant principal county

solicitor, by September 7, to be taken in to consideration.

Once the traffic order comes into effect, no cars or other motor vehicles, except those visiting homes or

land, will be allowed in the streets. There will be no prohibitions on pedestrians or cyclists.

A spokesman for the county council said: "The roads affected by this order mainly provide access to houses.

"At present vehicles are using Orford Road and Nacton Road in order to avoid the traffic signals at the

junction of Beach Station Road and Langer Road.

"Also when the Sunday market is held, off Sea Road, visitors to the

market are parking in the nearby

residential roads, making it difficult for residents to gain access to their properties."

The proposed ban on traffic is intended to resolve the problems by removing unnecessary vehicles.

Cars will still be able to gain access to the Dolphin pub in Nacton Road but not park on-street, while access should be made easier for the ambulance

station in Levington Road.