Suffolk's Operation Stack attracts litter and human waste

Concerns are growing that a temporary solution to Operation Stack in Suffolk is bringing litter, human waste, and even prostitution to the doorstep of a double award-winning country village.

Since March 2008, lorries bound for Felixstowe Port have been diverted off the A14 when it becomes too windy and onto the old A45 at Levington to park up. A steering group is currently investigating a permanent site for lorries, with an announcement due by next summer.

But drivers are now using the quiet stretch of road to regularly park, and councillors, truckstop bosses and drivers say the area is becoming bogged down by litter and prostitutes plying their trade.

Trimley St Martin parish councillor Ian Cowan has complained in an email to councillors at Levington - which won Suffolk village of the year in 2007 and 2008 - about the "bottles full of urine thrown out of cab windows - or worse".

He tells Commercial Motor that lorries are parking up every night: "The problems [the steering group] should be worrying about are litter, waste matter and prostitutes," he says. "There's no evidence [of prostitution], but the simple fact is lorries parking overnight in Suffolk could mean that it's a problem brewing."

Orwell Crossing lorry park owner Karl Rout says drivers have complained to him about being woken up by prostitutes: "Drivers are annoyed to say the least," he says. "They are being woken up during the night by persistent ladies wanting business. Nobody knew it was there until they stuck Operation Stack there."

Levington Parish Council chairman David Long estimates there are between six and eight lorries parking on the road every night, but he says the allegations cannot be substantiated: "I spoke to one of the residents of a house directly opposite this lay-by and they were not aware of that at all."

Suffolk Police says it has received no complaints.