PRINCE Charles is today being challenged to speak out against his old college's proposals to turn a Suffolk village into a new town.Villagers are asking the prince, an old boy of Trinity College, Cambridge, to give their campaign the royal seal of approval – and condemn the college's plans to take fields for up to 3,000 homes.
PRINCE Charles is today being challenged to speak out against his old college's proposals to turn a Suffolk village into a new town.
Villagers are asking the prince, an old boy of Trinity College, Cambridge, to give their campaign the royal seal of approval – and condemn the college's plans to take fields for up to 3,000 homes.
"We know Prince Charles loves the environment and we just wonder what he might think of Trinity's plans to use green field sites for housing," said Richard Kerry, chairman of Trimley St Mary Parish Council.
"Our aim is to make him aware of what is happening and find out his views. We know it is his old college and it will be interesting to see what he has to say."
The council has agreed to write to the prince and give him a full outline of Trinity's scheme and the impact it will have on its rural community, green field sites and the adjoining area of outstanding natural beauty.
Prince Charles studied at Trinity College, reading archaeology and anthropology and later history, from 1967 to 1970. He was made an Honorary Fellow in 1988.
He visited the college last month to meet members of the college's First and Third Boat Club and name a college coxed IV boat The Prince of Wales in his honour, and he keeps in touch with all the college's activities.
The college has caused outrage in Trimley St Mary and Trimley St Martin villages with its long-term vision which could see thousands of homes, businesses and village centres built on all the spare fields and open space between the A14 and Felixstowe-Ipswich railway line.
Its agents Bidwells have had detailed reports drawn up which have been submitted to Suffolk Coastal council as part of the local plan review showing how the development could take place.
They have stressed that the scheme is not set in stone and that the ideas have been put forward for discussion. The land identified for building is said to be the most suitable place for development on the Felixstowe peninsula.
A major campaign has been launched to stop the project, which may be put forward at a public inquiry into the local plan in 2005.
n What do you think? Write to Your Letters, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail EveningStarLetters@eveningstar.co.uk
WEBLINKS: www.savetrimley.co.uk
www.trimley-vision.co.uk
www.trimley-st-martin.org.uk
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here