Sir Michael Gambon may have made his name in Shakespeare productions and in films such as the Harry Potter series – but he was seemingly also interested in the issues that affect regular people in Suffolk.
The star of stage and screen, who has died aged 82 in Witham, had a home in Aldeburgh on the Suffolk coast.
Back in 2011, he read a story in the East Anglian Daily Times featuring Dorian Lovell-Pank over his concerns about the volume of traffic at a recycling facility at Fort Green.
Sir Michael backed Mr Lovell-Pank's calls for the facility to be moved to an alternative site along the road to Thorpeness.
Penning a letter to this newspaper, Sir Michael called for a resolution to the matter.
He wrote: "Returning to Aldeburgh this week for half-term, as I do on every possible occasion, with my family, I noticed an article in your paper about the recycling centre at Fort Green.
"I have been astonished that such a centre should be so placed – there are countless vehicles blocking up at that end of the road – buses, lorries attempting to turn, cars on their way to the yacht club, day tourists who use the car park and, worst of all, the seemingly mindless drivers who stop in the middle of the road beside the bottle bank, to plink their few bottles, apparently oblivious of the havoc they are causing to the, at times, enormous volume of other traffic.
"I believe this is called being ‘green’. I fail to understand the concept in this case. The site was clearly situated at Fort Green a long time ago when the increase of present traffic and population could not have been foreseen.
"I regard this site now as being environmentally unviable. I gather from your article on Wednesday [October 26], that it is worrying local residents and that they, too, feel it should be placed elsewhere and not in a place where traffic hazards and potential accidents are inevitable.
"There is a place on the road to Thorpeness where there is a clear definition of entry and exit and which would not only reduce the congestion in the High Street but also reduce the danger factor in recycling bottles and newspapers.
"I hope this clarifies my position and I know it to be the same as many other lovers and visitors of Aldeburgh.
"I sincerely hope this matter can be rectified to the satisfaction of residents and holidaymakers alike."
Depite the star's efforts, recycling facilities remain at Fort Green car park in Aldeburgh.
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