A 'much-needed' Suffolk lorry park has been given permission to more than double its capacity to 50 lorries despite a council's concerns about safety from lorries pulling out on to a busy road.

East Suffolk Council has approved the plans for the former gasworks site off the A154 Walton Avenue in Felixstowe.

The town council had refused the additional lorry spaces, saying 'the additional proposed Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) parking will prevent the safe forward-facing entrance and exit of HGVs from this site'.

READ MORE: Felixstowe: Lorry park near port approved by East Suffolk

Felixstowe Mayor Seamus Bennett was 'disappointed' about the decision and said he was concerned about the impact of noise on nearby residents as well as the safety issues in Walton Avenue.

Originally, the proposals submitted by agent ADP London on behalf of the applicant, known only as 'Mr Cakir,' were for a 20-space lorry park, but the latest plans more than double that number and include revisions to planned 'portable' office blocks and staff car parking.

A report prepared by planning officers said: "This application seeks to increase the number of
HGVs on the site from 20 to 50.

"The application also proposes a revised layout in relation to the approved Portakabin-style office blocks and staff car parking.

"The size and number of these would be unchanged however the location would be moved forward on the site (maximising the space for HGV parking to the rear)."

READ MORE: Felixstowe news

The planning officers were also satisfied the noise concerns had been addressed by mitigation measures proposed by the developer.

In the original planning proposals, ADP said the project would "deliver a much-needed lorry car park which will cater for the local community".

The site of the application is only a short drive from the Port of Felixstowe and is a former gasworks, built in the early 1900s.

READ MORE: Suffolk news