ipswich.gov.uk

I wish to lodge the following objections to the proposal to allocate this site for use as a Gypsy and Traveller site:
1. It is not apparent that Ipswich Borough Council has explored the full utilisation of current sites on the West Meadows site which could negate the need to create a new site.
2.There does not appear to have been consultation with neighbouring district councils to indentify need across district boundaries. In addition there is already a large allocation of sites for this group in north west Ipswich and in Mid Suffolk, while there is little provision in Babergh for example.
3. Opinion Research Services 2013 indentified that 34% of travellers would prefer sites to be located in open countryside, I do not consider a site which is immediately adjacent to the A14 to meet this.
4. The research study by Rok Ho Kim Occupational Health Scientist for the World Health Organization (WHO) found that exposure to excessive noise pollution was detrimental to health causing sleep disturbance and cardiovascular disease. It is estimated that highway traffic creates noise levels at 75-78 decibels , noise levels greater than 30 can induce sleep disturbance and at night it is recommended that to be able to sleep with a window open decibels should not be in excess of 45, with traffic movement on the A14 exceeding 40.000 per week clearly these levels will be exceeded and expose the site occupants to unacceptable and health adverse levels of noise pollution.
5. Similarly a site next to the A14 will expose the occupants to high levels of air pollution, the 2005 WHO study Health effects of Transport Related Air Pollution stated that time activity patterns showed that residents who lived near a busy road are exposed to critical levels of air pollutants and particularly vulnerable to the adverse health effects of particle matter emmissions from particularly diesel vechiles. Of the traffic movements on the A14 in excess of 27% are HGV's most will be diesel fuelled
6. The access to and from this site is dangerous in that there is a bend in the road which gives restricted visibility for traffic egressing from Ipswich.
7. I would wish to support the alternative proposal put forward by the management of Clarice House for this site to become a open green space for physical activity which can be accessed by Clarice House members and the general public, thereby protecting the green space between Ipswich and Bramford, enhancing the locality and offering health benefits to local residents and especially as there are possible plans to build more housing on sites adjacent to Bramford Road.