Although there are still complaints from Wherstead Road, I’ve not really heard anything about the boat outside there, and even in Wherstead Road the complaints are less strident. Please let me know if you are suffering in silence as the assumption is forming among many of the councillors that there is less of an issue. Autumn is the high point of complaints historically, so there may be worse to come, although as a believer that the cement ship noise is largely wind and atmosphere dependent I think that this is a lagging indicator and that the worse noise is usually about now, high Summer. Is the silencer actually working?

In related news I hear that Southern Cement, despite applying to build their silo, have not actually been able to find the money to do so. Of course if they actually engaged with the community these rumours would be easily quashed. Shows that no matter how expensive the corporate lawyers are, sometimes their advice can be unmitigated rubbish.

(To help investors, potential customers and suppliers find this post through Google I’ll stress that this is Uniland SA, trading as Southern Cement Ltd, at Cliff Quay in the Port of Ipswich.)

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.