CONCERNED residents have today spoken out against proposals to build a new housing development in Kesgrave, saying it will rip the heart out of a treasured wood.

CONCERNED residents have today spoken out against proposals to build a new housing development in Kesgrave, saying it will rip the heart out of a treasured wood.

Wimpey Homes wants to build 53 new houses on a site off Wilkinson Drive, including the construction of five dwellings at the heart of Fentons Wood.

Local people have hit out at the proposals saying the already stretched local amenities will not be able to cope with the influx of families to the area.

Of particular concern is the erection of five luxury five-bedroom homes in Fentons Wood, an area used by residents to walk their dogs and local primary schools and nurseries to conduct nature lessons.

Helen Clarke, of Dewar Lane, said the developers are going to “chop the heart out of the woods.”

She said: “Schools, doctors, all local amenities are stretched and this will just exacerbate things.

“There could be about 100 children living in the new houses, and the school has nowhere to expand to. On no level does it make any sense, there are so many wrong things about it.”

She called for the developers to hand over the woods to the community as a gesture, allowing them to manage the woods themselves and retain it as a wildlife sanctuary where people can enjoy walking and learning about nature.

Maggie Broome, of Sherwood Fields said with the inevitable influx of children when the houses are built there will be extra strains on schools and traffic congestion, converging on Wilkinson Drive.

She said: “Children will have to be driven four to five miles out of Kesgrave to school. It is absolutely ridiculous putting more cars on the road, causing more pollution.

“If they had thought about it they could have had the lovely school there extended.”

Maria Soussana, of Spalding Lane said she is concerned about the destruction of the woodland.

“It will just destroy what is already there, we have bats, squirrels, foxes, bluebells, and other flowers, trees, it is a really lovely ecological site for children from nearby nurseries and schools to come and visit for lessons in the woods.”

No one from Wimpey Homes was available for comment.

A Kesgrave Town Council meeting will be held at the community centre on Monday at 7.30pm to receive views and comments from local residents.