I saw a Spanish IP pop up on my visitors log among all the Union Jacks, so I knew that the Southern Cement was likely to be unloading today.

Usually it’s been quiet, but there has been a complaint along Wherstead Road. Hopefully it’s not going to travel and it won’t hbe around tonight.

Here’s hoping – I’m not keen on doing more leaflets. (For the record it’s been great so far.)

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.)

Never heard of Nick Herbert?*

Well if the Tories do win the General Election you will hear about him a lot more.  He’s the shadow environment spokesman for the Conservatives, so it’s a good chance he’ll become a minister if the Tories get in.

When I heard that he was coming down to help Ben Gummer I lobbied the Ipswich Tories to get him down to the docks to get him to talk to some people from the Noise Action Group and the Wherstead Road Residents’ Association about the way in which the port was operating.

The Noise Action Group then got the chance to tell the man who could be the next Environment Minister about how the port can be dismissive of its neighbours, and that engaging people who want a working port that’s a good neighbour will be better than in three years time trying to engage people who don’t want a working port as any sort of neighbour.

Hopefully ABP will at some point see sense and engage with those who wish it well.

Nick Herbert also became a fan of the Steamboat Tavern, which is as it should be.

A photo of Ben Gummer in this blog that he won't object to. Ben Gummer takes Nick Herbert to the Steamboat Tavern to meet the Noise Action Group and the Wherstead Road Residents Association

*I actually had heard of Nick Herbert, but I’m a political anorak on the sly.

I was at Ipswich Council’s Port Focus group.  At one point it was not clear if there were any councillors from Bridge who would be present (Bryony Rudkin did come in later.) I understand that the minutes will be out soon, and I will link to them.  Until then there are some pertinent points:

1.  Southern Cement have fitted on a silencer.  The Council Officers have all claimed that this reduces the noise considerably.

2.  The dust is going to be monitored partly by access to Southern Cement’s close circuit TV cameras

3.  The point was made by many of the councillors and residents that Southern Cement actually hurt their cause and made life more difficult for themselves by refusing to talk to the residents, and councillors.

4.  The Noise Action Group stated that while a silencer was welcome it was too early to declare victory on the noise and the real test will be in spring and early summer when conditions change.

5.  The port focus group leads into the port liaison group.  Yes, it is too bureaucratic but that’s what comes of not talking to residents.  Any way, we’ve elected Peter Evans, one of the founders of the Noise Action Group and by far the most radical of the prominent activists to the Port Liaison Group.

There are other issues which will be addressed later.

I’m just digesting the port noise FAQs that have been put up on the Ipswich Council website.  They’re not easy to find, so here’s a direct link (they are in PDF format, so you’ll have to have Adobe Acrobat).

I’m digesting them now, but here’s something that caught my eye:

The following trials have been carried out:

Now the obvious question is why isn’t Southern Cement letting people know?  If it did that it wouldn’t be so unpopular.  And surely ABP Ipswich, who are going to suffer from this unpopularity and distrust for years to come, could be telling people.

Yes it was back last night.  I wandered around to hear, it was quiet (although present) at the bottom of Rectory Road and I couldn’t hear it at all in Stoke Street.  However when I walked into Austin Street it was quite intrusive.  The same was the case at the top Wherstead Road (up to Purplett Street) and also down Tyler Street.  Vernon Street had it, but it was largely drowned out by the road traffic (it must get worse after abot 11) and it was clear and strong down Felaw Maltings, Great Whip Street and New Cut West.

The Noise Action Group would like to run a walkabout of the area the next time the cement ship comes, so please let me know if you would like to help.

Thank you to Henry Cooper and Des Pawson who sent this through:

I’ve transcribed the announcement below:

Evening Star, Thursday, July 30, 2009

Southern Cement Ltd (No 1 Shed, Cliff Quay, Port of Ipswich, Suffolk, IP3 0BS)

Southern Cement Ltd has applied to Ipswich Borough Council to vary their Environmental Permit for the blending, packing, loading, unloading and use of bulk cement.  Southern Cement Ltd has proposed to construct a 35m high 16m diameter silo of 6599 metric tonne capacity at their existing location to increase their current storage space.  The application may be inspected at the Ipswich Borough Council offices, Grafton House, 15-17 Russell Road, Ipswich, IP1 2DE.  Members of the public have a right to inspect the register free of charge.  Any written representations concerning the application may be made at the Council offices within 28 days from the publication of this notice.

————–

More will be following.

I’ve been officially informed by one of the councillors that the Council have postponed rather than cancelled a meeting with Southern Cement.  It was all an unfortunate (very unfortunate) turn of phrase and they are instead awaiting developments.

The ludicrously easy to meet request from the group for a direct meeting with Southern Cement is also going to be backed by all both the Conservative and Labour councillors. 

Yet Southern Cement still won’t meet with us.  The Noise Action Group does not want a single job to go with Southern Cement, but there’s one exception.  Their Public Relations consultant is clearly not up to the job.

I just got this email:

I knew something was odd this morning as they were cleaning the quay side with their mechanical sweeper lorry. It might be a new one.

Anyway as I write 8.45 they are getting the Kovak into place. That means about 11 the ship will arrive and by 12 they should be pumping.

If this is the case then all we have to keep the noise down is heavy weather, or perhaps if they are held up by the heavy weather, then they will have to pump at full tilt as I think weather will be against them. So noise levels will be interesting.

Here are some tips on how to complain:

1.  If the noise is happening outside normal office hours, phone up the emergency noise number on 433444. If the noise is happening in office hours the number is 433115.
2.  Give your name and address and state how it is bothering you
3.  State whether you will be willing to allow environment officers in the room where you are suffering the noise.  Please note that they will not measure noise from your garden or another room.  It usually takes ninety minutes from you complaining to them leaving your house.
4.  Log every instance.
5.  If the noise is still occurring wait for another four hours before complaining again.