Traffic congestion fears over new homes
CAMPAIGNERS fighting proposals for 1,400 new homes in Felixstowe and the Trimleys today claimed the development will create serious congestion on the A14.
TRIMLEY: Campaigners fighting proposals for 1,400 new homes in Felixstowe and the Trimleys today claimed the development will create serious congestion on the A14.
Save Trimley Against Growth (STAG) has obtained documents which show house building on the peninsula plus extra homes at Martlesham and Ipswich, and an extra million lorries using the Felixstowe port, will mean the Orwell Bridge will be at 98 per cent capacity by 2014.
The A14 between the port and Copdock Interchange is already said to be operating at capacity in morning and evening rush hours.
Suffolk Coastal - which meets today to discuss the housing plans - disputes the figures.
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“Extreme words like 'gridlock' have been used by objectors to housing but the council has taken expert advice on the subject and is assured that this will not happen,” said the council.
However, STAG says the council's experts have not taken into account traffic from the extra homes, impact from additional jobs to be created across the area, plus traffic to and from a regenerated Felixstowe resort, Sizewell and SnOasis.
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The group also disputes the need for the housing, saying there is evidence in county council reports to suggest average household sizes are not likely to increase hugely and the population of Suffolk Coastal is set to decrease over the next 15 years, meaning only 1,800 new homes will be needed across the district, not 7,660.
“The truth is that all of this real need for extra housing can be fulfilled from currently outstanding planning permissions,” said STAG spokesman Ian Cowan.
He added if councillors felt the policy process was so flawed that a fresh start must be made, they should have the courage and integrity to say so.
