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Residents protest against Operation Stack diversion
Page 14
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CONCERNS ARE growing that a temporary solution to Operation Stack in Suffolk is bringing litter, human waste and even prostitution to the doorstep of a double awardwinning country village.
Since March 2008, lorries bound for Felixstowe Port have been diverted off the A 1 4 when it becomes too windy and onto the old A45 at Levington to park up. A steering group is currently investigating a permanent site for lorries, with an announcement due by next summer.
But drivers are now regularly using the quiet stretch of road to park, and councillors, truckstop bosses and drivers say the area is becoming bogged down by litter and prostitutes plying their trade. lan Cowan, Trimley St Martin parish councillor. has complained in an email sent to councillors at Levington — which won Suffolk Village of the Year in 2007 and 2008 — about the "bottles full of urine thrown out of cab windows': He tells CM lorries are parking up every night: "The problems [the steering group] should be worrying about are litter, waste matter and prostitutes," he says. "There's no evidence [of prostitution], but the simple fact is lorries parking overnight in Suffolk could mean that its a problem brewing."
Orwell Crossing lorry park owner Karl Rout says drivers have complained about being woken up by prostitutes at the old A45 at Levington: "Drivers are annoyed to say the least," he says. "Nobody knew it was there until they stuck Operation Stack there."
David Long, Levington Parish Council chairman, estimates there are between six and eight lorries parking on the road every night, but he says the allegations cannot be substantiated: "I spoke to a resident who lives opposite the lay-by and they weren't aware of that at all."
Suffolk Police says that it has received no complaints.