VILLAGERS are today getting ready for the next stage of their battle to stop their community being transformed by massive housing development.Campaigners in Trimley St Mary and Trimley St Martin fear new proposals by landowning Trinity College to build up to 1,500 homes on farmland will be seen as more acceptable by planners – because it is half the number first suggested.

VILLAGERS are today getting ready for the next stage of their battle to stop their community being transformed by massive housing development.

Campaigners in Trimley St Mary and Trimley St Martin fear new proposals by landowning Trinity College to build up to 1,500 homes on farmland will be seen as more acceptable by planners - because it is half the number first suggested.

But people in the twin villages on the Felixstowe peninsula do not want hundreds of new homes built in their communities.

They say around 50 affordable homes is the number needed so youngsters do not have to move away from their families, plus some sheltered accommodation.

Community action group Save Trimley Against Growth (STAG) is currently putting the finishing touches to its submission to council planners showing why large-scale development would ruin the area.

STAG member Carl Storer said: "Even if there was a need for a large scale housing development - which there is not - there are plenty of other more suitable locations elsewhere.

"All greenfield land is an asset to the community and we are determined to fight Trinity College all the way no matter how long it takes and no matter where the battle leads us."

Colleague Barbara Shout said: "The lion is about to roar mightily. Trinity College may think we are small people who can be easily ignored, but we have strong hearts, loud voices and plenty of stamina.

"We have a historic duty to preserve our way of life and environment.

"We have plenty of support and many weapons still to unleash in our armoury."

Trinity College is soon to publish its revised vision for the long-term development of the Trimleys.

Senior bursar Dr Jeremy Fairbrother has indicated there will be substantial changes to the original plan to take in to account views from residents expressed during a consultation process last year, particularly to keep the villages separate.

The previous plans envisaged using all the land in Trimley St Mary and Trimley St Martin between the rail line and A14 for homes, business units and community facilities.

STAG says residents want to preserve the rural nature of the villages and surrounding countryside. It believes a large number of houses was "rumoured" in order to frighten the villagers into accepting something less.

The group says large development is unacceptable because it will mean the destruction of irreplaceable greenfield land, set a precedent making it easier for future developments to be accepted, and could eventually lead to the equivalent of a new town stretching all the way from Felixstowe to Ipswich.