MARTLESHAM: Dispute raged at a meeting attended by development chiefs and residents opposed to the building of 2,000 new homes near their neighbourhood.
MARTLESHAM: Dispute raged at a meeting attended by development chiefs and residents opposed to the building of 2,000 new homes near their neighbourhood.
Suffolk Coastal planning bosses met residents to discuss the impact of what objectors call a potentially disastrous “new town” next to BT's Adastral Park complex in Martlesham Heath.
Visitors to Martlsham Heath Pavilion were last night met at the door by members of the No Adastral New Town protest group before hearing council planners explain the redevelopment of the area, which would include new community facilities and changes to the road network.
Today, Ian Kay, member of No Adastral New Town, said: “We don't think putting all the housing in the same place is a good idea and prefer a distributed housing policy.
“It will destroy our local community and increase urbanisation. There is a well documented need for housing but Suffolk Coastal should be making smaller rural communities viable instead of dumping all the homes here.”
Opposition began to boil over in July when an original plan, incorporating 1,050 homes and the promise of improved local infrastructure, almost doubled to 2,000 homes for the area east of the A12.
The council sought to reassure residents of Martlesham and Waldringfield that the benefits of the revised proposal, which follows the Local Development Framework's core strategy of 7,710 new homes by 2025, would outweigh the drawbacks.
But critics believe any planned development would increase pollution and congestion by grossly intruding on a rural environment.
The plan has already been subject to two consultations and any objections or comment should be submitted before November 18, before the council cabinet considers its decision in December.
In a document handed out at the meeting, Suffolk Costal said the development would boost facilities in the area, improve infrastructure and provide a “stand alone community”.
Are you concerned at the plans? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.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