VILLAGERS fear that nearly 400 new homes and a Tesco superstore will mean even more traffic and danger for pedestrians on their busy main street.

Trimley St Mary Parish Council highlighted a number of concerns over the Walton Green development proposals, including the loss of high-grade farmland which has always acted as a buffer, keeping the village separate from Felixstowe.

Council chairman Colin Jacobs said: “Since the last closure of the A14 for major work two years ago we have found that traffic in Trimley High Road has increased alarmingly.

“Our view is that a lot of drivers found that it was an easy route to avoid the A14 and so never went back to using the dual carriageway afterwards.

“As far as Walton Green is concerned we can only look at the possible impact on Trimley St Mary, but we believe the houses and the superstore will put extra traffic on to High Road. Certainly people using the store will find that is the easiest route to use – they won’t go out onto the A14 and drive round.”

It was very difficult for people, especially the elderly, to cross High Road throughout the day now because of the traffic.

Mr Jacobs said: “We would like to see a county council survey of traffic and also some assessment of the pollution, another concern we have.

“Suffolk Coastal has always had a policy of keeping the village separate from Felixstowe, but if these fields are built on, that separation will be gone – we will only be separated by the A14, which is not a green area.”

The council agreed to send details of its concerns to Suffolk Coastal council, which will make the final decision on the Walton Green project.

A spokesman for the Walton Green Partnership said the partnership had offered the parish council a meeting with the project traffic consultant to explain the traffic analysis and it was hoped this would be taken up.