Entries from August 2009 ↓

Our councillor Phil Smart appears in the Evening Star saying that “The solution to traffic congestion is through better traffic management and the reduction of demand through better public transport.”

This is all very worthy.  However when I was at the Maidenhall Residents Association there were only two people who did not walk to this very well attended meeting, and Phil Smart was one of them.

So here’s a strategy for reducing demand – represent a ward that you live in.

Our councillors may think that we are moaning about nothing and maligning the far left unions but it was grim to be a commuter during the strike.  Sadly the RMT won’t compensate us for their strike to increase their pay rise so you will have to make do with National Express. 

Click here to get your compensation.

One of the reasons for setting this blog up was because I’d talked to Des Pawson at the last area forum and he complained that it was impossible to find the area forum on google, yet you could find him at the top of page one when searching for his name.  Bridge needs a web presence, I thought. 

So this is the first time I’m advertising an area forum for Soth West Ipswich.  It’s at 6.15, on Wednesday 2nd September at St Francis church hall up in Chantry.   The port noise will be discussed.

I will see you there.

I’ve just had a Labour voting member of the Noise Abatement group on the phone, livid.

A Labour councillor from a nearby ward has been telling him that he doesn’t know what the fuss is all about, he’s only heard the noise once and that he is proud to have opposed any moves to lend noise recording equipment to residents.

If I can get this person to forward the councillors behaviour in writing, I’ll be approaching the Bridge Labour councillors (who are not to blame) about this before revealing the sneering councillors name.

I was in Sandringham Close and the surrounding area knocking on doors and we had at least ten people complaining about the noise from the Southern Cement ship.  This is in an area where there has been little previous work.  This noise is getting everywhere and people are not sure where it’s coming from until they’ve been told.

I know there are some in the borough council (who do read this) who wish that this would just go away, but it will not until Southern Cement gets the noise down.

The deadline is quickly approaching for the Southern Cement application to vary their environmental permit to expand their operations.  If you want to do something about it it needs to be quick.  Luckily it is quite easy.  Here are some easy instructions:

1.  Write to the following address:
 
Environmental Protection Services

2.  Refer to the application:
 
Southern Cement Ltd (No1 Shed Cliff Quay Port of Ipswich IP3 0BS)
Application to Vary Environmental Permit, for blending, packaging, loading unloading and the use of bulk cement.

3.  Say that you object to the application
 
4.  Give reasons refering to the dust.  The application is about dust pollution so if you’ve seen it then refer to it. 

5.  If you wish you can also mention noise.   Be aware that this is not the major issue and will not be a reason for refusal, but if Southern Cement see the objections and are aware that it is noise that is causing problems they are more likely to do something about this.

The one big Conservative event that is not held on the other side of the river is the annual Summer garden party.  This is a great party, the Tories do tend to hold the best ones.

It’s on Sunday 16 August and starts from 2 pm with tickets at £12 each. 

It’s at Tudor House in Stone Lodge Lane, further details from Kathy at 688516.

There’s a map here:

Map

I was at a meeting of the Maidenhall Residents Association last night talking about the Southern Cement noise and talking about the far flung places it has been heard – Chantry Estate, Belstead Brook, Wherstead Village.  “Well I heard it down the Ipswich Hospital when I visited my daughter.”

That’s the furthest, by far

I’d like to remind readers that we have until 25th August to get the complaints into the council about Southern Cement’s expansion. 

Complaints are to be addressed to:

Environmental Protection Services
Ipswich Borough Council
Grafton House
Ipswich
IP1 2DE

It it an environmental permit variation and it mainly concerns the dust.  If you think that Southern Cement has been negligent with the way they treat discharged dust then please say so.

The Bridge Ward Social club will be hosting a meeting of the Ipswich Branch of the Railway Correspondance and Travel Society (RCTS) looking at the Midland & Great Northern Joint Railway as was.  It will be on 14th September commencing at 7.30 pm.