SUFFOLK families will be given the chance to influence one of the county's biggest ever projects, through an exhibition of the £300million Snoasis project.

SUFFOLK families will be given the chance to influence one of the county's biggest ever projects, through an exhibition of the £300million Snoasis project.

It will be the first time a close-up glimpse of the plans for the former Blue Circle cement works site in Great Blakenham have been presented to the public.

It is being held at the Claydon Country House Hotel, in Ipswich Road in the village, on July 17, 18 and 19.

A slide show and plans will be presented, while there will also be an opportunity to quiz the scheme's experts.

Richard Berry and Maurice Shnapps, directors of Snoasis, and Godfrey Spanner, director of Onslow Suffolk Ltd, the site owners, will be available to answer questions.

David Lowe, director of Ipswich-based EWS, who are acting for the developers, said: "There seems to be a good measure of support for the project but we want to make sure people are fully informed on the proposals we have in mind and to receive the thoughts of people and to hear any ideas they've got."

The scheme is currently at the supplementary planning guidance stage, which gives people the chance to air any views they have on the possible development, until July 26. It is hoped to submit a planning application by the autumn and, if successful, to begin work by the end of the year.

Inquires have already been received from individual retailers about the possibility of setting up business at the site, with Snow and Rock, a leading national winter sports equipment retailer, among them.

The exhibition is open from 10am until 8pm on Thursday, July 17, and Friday, July 18 and from 10am until 1pm on Saturday, July 19.

To register your views about the scheme, write to Stephen Andrews, Planning Policy Manager, Mid Suffolk District Council, 131 High Street, Needham Market, IP6 8DL or fax 01449 727403.