CONCERNED residents have today been assured they can have a say on the possible locations of new properties as part of a consultation.The full extent of Ipswich Borough Council's Local Development Framework, as revealed in The Evening Star last week, prompted a flurry of worried residents to get in touch.

CONCERNED residents have today been assured they can have a say on the possible locations of new properties as part of a consultation.

The full extent of Ipswich Borough Council's Local Development Framework, as revealed in The Evening Star last week, prompted a flurry of worried residents to get in touch.

Many claimed they were unaware of the consultation taking place and were anxious they would not get a chance to submit their views before next week's deadline.

However the council has today stated that due to the number of concerns, they are now giving residents more time to send in their comments and the consultation period will carry on until 5pm on March 20.

The LDF, which is not equivalent to any planning permission, outlines a number of options for housing across the town over the next 13 years, ranging from the densely-populated area of Cauldwell Hall Road, which could mean 'garden grabs', to the large site of St Clement's Hospital in Foxhall Road.

It has been set up to meet the government's target of building 15,400 houses within the Ipswich borough boundary, by 2021.

Mother of three, Emma Apea-Agyei, 26, lives on Bramford Road, and after reading The Evening Star, realised her garden was included in plans for the LDF.

She said: “I am in a rented property so I don't know how much of a say I would get in this. I got a letter about it and went round to tell my neighbours about it.

“My children love the garden, and that is one of the reasons we chose this place rather than a first floor flat. It has always been my dream to have a garden so this would be like destroying that dream.”

Another resident likely to be affected by the plans if they got the go-ahead, Doreen Holden, 73, of Larchcroft Road, Castle Hill, said: “We did not know anything about this possible development and are all very concerned. I live in the house opposite where all this building work could take place.

“The council said they tried to contact everyone near the site but we have had no notification of this.”

To contribute to the consultation, or for more information, visit www.ipswich.gov.uk.

What is your view of the plans? How will they affect you? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk

Residents are invited to attend a South West Ipswich forum on Thursday, February 28, at St Peter's Church, Stoke Park Drive, Ipswich, and a South East Ipswich Forum on March 11 at 7pm at All Hallows Church, Landseer Road to express their views on the proposals.

There have also been a number of public events, advertisements in the press and a supplement in the council's newspaper, Ipswich Angle.

Councillor for economic development Richard Atkins, said: “We have said all along that consultation is vital. We want as many residents and businesses as possible to let us know their views on our preferred options. Only then can we move to the next stage of the process as no final decisions have been taken.

“Over the past couple of weeks, the council has received a number of requests for an extension to the consultation period. Now, councillors have decided that comments can be submitted up to 5pm on March 20.”