Investigations are under way following clearance work at the former site of a historic railway station.

Residents became alarmed after bulldozers and diggers moved onto the old Beach Station site at Felixstowe and started ripping out vegetation and self-seeded trees.

The site – which runs from Beach Station Road, between the port southern rail line and Langer Park and Langer Primary Academy – is shrouded by a screen, preventing anyone from seeing what work is taking place or entering the compound.

One resident told the EADT: “Whoever is working in there has cleared a huge site – they have torn down trees and huge bushes. It is rumoured that it could be a haulage firm moving in, which could mean articulated lorries pumping out fumes just behind the primary school.

“The residents should be allowed to give their views, but if there is no planning application then we cannot have a say.”

The old railway station was demolished without warning ten years ago as campaigners sought to have it listed. People in the area have always expected the land to be used for housing.

A Suffolk Coastal council spokesman said: “There is an on-going investigation being carried out by Suffolk Coastal District Council into the activities at this site, following a complaint from a member of the public.

“The detail of the investigation must remain confidential at this stage.

“However, we can confirm that there have not been any planning applications for this site.

“It is not yet been ascertained whether there is a valid previous application which relates to this land.

“It is also currently not known what sort of operation may be planned for this site.

“Our planning department are in contact with the occupier attempting to resolve these issues, as soon as possible. We will be in a position to issue a statement once we have had the opportunity to complete the investigation.”