CONTROVERSIAL moves to turn the Trimleys into a "new town" were facing fresh criticism today because they conflict with ideas to develop Felixstowe.Villagers will be heartened by the news that town councillors at the resort are against the scheme to build up to 3,000 homes in their communities – saying landowners Trinity College are trying to "usurp" the planning process.

CONTROVERSIAL moves to turn the Trimleys into a "new town" were facing fresh criticism today because they conflict with ideas to develop Felixstowe.

Villagers will be heartened by the news that town councillors at the resort are against the scheme to build up to 3,000 homes in their communities – saying landowners Trinity College are trying to "usurp" the planning process.

But town councillors have already identified other possible areas for housing, which may prove equally controversial.

Felixstowe councillors have decided it would "not be appropriate" to meet representatives of the Cambridge college, or hold a public meeting as the vision for the villages and Walton have no planning status.

The council has written to the college's representatives Bidwells saying it has "fundamental concerns about the appropriateness of an individual landowner attempting to usurp the planning process and to attempt to address issues which were the prerogative of the various planning authorities".

It has also asked for details of the college's proposals and contributions to regenerate Felixstowe with community, employment and environmental benefits.

Trinity College has caused uproar in Trimley with its suggestion that all the fields and open space between the A14 and railway line could be used for homes, industrial units, school, greens and a village centre.

But Felixstowe Town Council says the only piece of the vision plan it would support is the full-scale underpass at the dock spur roundabout.

The idea of a link road between Candlet Road and Walton High Road would be worth further investigation – but it would rather see that field used for housing.

Its biggest objection is to the vision's blanket protection zone for land north of Felixstowe which it says is "entirely inappropriate" as this clashes with its own ideas for housing.

Town councillors have accepted the time has come to devote land for new estates and possibly a "potentially substantial" "new settlement" next to the dock spur junction, with shops, schools, medical facilities, and possibly employment

It feels setting aside more farmland for homes would reduce the "town cramming" from which the resort is suffering and has asked Suffolk Coastal's planners to consider using:

n Land in Old Felixstowe between Estuary Drive and Ferry Road.

n Fields either side of Walton High Street just before the bridge over the A14, with homes right up to the boundary with Trimley St Mary.

n Farmland between Upperfield Drive and Gulpher Road next to Eastward Ho.

n Sites to the north of the dock spur roundabout, which would take the town into open countryside.

Bidwells say the aim of the vision is to stimulate debate about the future and how the area might be developed, not to impose its ideas. The ideas are not detailed at this stage and not set in stone and views are wanted.

WEBLINKS: www.savetrimley.co.uk

www.trimley-vision.co.uk

www.trimley-st-martin.org.uk

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