A CONTROVERSIAL care home at Purdis Farm is set to get the go-ahead, despite protests that it will ruin the area's tranquillity and cause extra traffic.

A CONTROVERSIAL care home at Purdis Farm is set to get the go-ahead, despite protests that it will ruin the area's tranquillity and cause extra traffic.

Residents, parish and district councillors and the Suffolk Preservation Society have all objected to plans for the 55-bedroom home in Bucklesham Road.

Suffolk Coastal councillors meet to discuss it on April 30 and are recommended to approve the project as long as it will have no effect on established trees and extra site boundary planting is agreed.

Residents are concerned about extra traffic danger, whether it is the best site for a care home with lack of pavements or footpath links to nearby shops and other facilities, size and scale of the building, overlooking, and drainage problems.

Planning case officer Michaelle Coupe said a care home was suitable for a residential area.

“By its very nature the proposed development will be different in appearance to the existing development around it,” she said.

“But, given the size of the site and that a significant part of the building will not be prominent from the road, it would not, it is felt, cause significant harm to the appearance of the area.

“The front part of the building, given its scale and appearance, is reflective of the individual houses along Bucklesham Road.

“While there will be more parking to the front of the building than typically found for a domestic property, the mature trees and embankments to the front of the site will provide some screening.”

Graham Balfe, of Bucklesham Road Area Residents' Association, said: “I think we are somewhat amazed especially in the way this appears to have been rushed through.

“Our hope is that the committee will at least decide on a site visit which may in turn sway the final decision.”

John Harding, director of Cameron Hamilton Homes, said there was a need for care homes and two or three operators were interested in the development.

It is expected to provide jobs for at least ten care staff plus other workers.

Should the care home be built? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk