Sadly cement importers to think that pollution is a positive way of engaging the community, but marine pollution has been  dealt with in another part of Suffolk, with oil tankers to be banned from oil transfers.  There’s three lessons to be learnt from this:

• A hard working and sympathetic local MP like John Gummer can get results
• The Transport ministry team, of which Chris Mole is a part, can stop shipping pollution – perhaps Chris Mole should remember this in his part time job as MP for Ipswich
• Regulatory agencies only have two modes – allow and ban.  There are far, far worse things for unpopular companies than getting a voluntary arrangement with residents.

Until now I have never properly understood what they mean by the term “groundswell”, but this is what is happening with the port noise.  I’ve spoken to politicians of all sides and they are shocked at the anger that this issue is raising.  Relying on lawyers to terrify Ipswich council will not help with that anger, and that anger is rising.

The only thing that will cut down the anger is engaging with the community.  The longer Southern Cement thumb their nose at their neighbours the harder the council will find it to help them.