PARISH councillors have warned that Ipswich's third park and ride scheme could lead to major traffic problems including the risk of serious accidents on the A12.

PARISH councillors have warned that Ipswich's third park and ride scheme could lead to major traffic problems including the risk of serious accidents on the A12.

Martlesham parish council has finalised its response to the county council's planning application for a park and ride site on land adjacent to the north west corner of the A12/A1214.

The hard hitting and critical submission will form part of the consultation gathered by the district council who will make a decision later this year.

Martlesham has formally objected to the plans, after gauging the opinions of parishioners at a public meeting. Councillors said the county's application did not include sufficient detail on the existing Copdock site to prove it was a success and they were concerned that traffic flows into Ipswich had increased.

At Martlesham the county wants to put in traffic lights at the Suffolk Police headquarters roundabout and it has warned that without this measure the traffic would come to a standstill by 2007.

But the parish council said: ''The signalisation of the roundabout is expected to cause a large build-up of traffic on both the north and southbound A12, mainly through traffic, which would not be using the park and ride facility. The environmental impact of vehicles stopping and starting will be far more serious than any benefits accruing from park and ride.

''Due to the topography of the A12 north of the roundabout, the road is prone to sporadic mist/fog in the bottom of the valley. The potential for serious accidents occurring whilst traffic is queuing on this section of the road due to the signalisation is therefore greatly increased.

''There is concern that existing public transport will suffer as a result of this scheme, i.e. Superoute 66 and routes 80, 81, 82, 83 and 84; there is no holistic approach to public transport in this area.''

The proposed £2.8m 550-space site is in woodland and the parish said uncommon acid grassland and some protected species would be destroyed.

However, the parish did like the environmentally friendly design of the main building. It will have a grass-roof and walls of sweet chestnut. New trees will be planted to offset the loss of trees felled for the facility.