A FUNDRAISING campaign has today been launched on the Shotley Peninsula to help fight plans to build hundreds of new homes at the HMS Ganges site. Friends of the Shotley Peninsula Parishes Alliance (SPPA) are attempting to raise £25,000 to pay for a planning consultant and other expert witnesses to represent the group at February's public inquiry.

A FUNDRAISING campaign has today been launched on the Shotley Peninsula to help fight plans to build hundreds of new homes at the HMS Ganges site.

Friends of the Shotley Peninsula Parishes Alliance (SPPA) are attempting to raise £25,000 to pay for a planning consultant and other expert witnesses to represent the group at February's public inquiry.

Earlier this year Babergh District Council backed plans to build 325 homes at the former naval training base, despite widespread opposition.

The decision was referred to the Office for the Deputy Prime Minister as it was against Babergh's Local Plan.

A public inquiry will now take place at Babergh's Hadleigh headquarters in February and Shotley Parish Council has engaged former planning inspector Dr Wendy Le-las to represent the interests of the ten parishes affected.

A traffic expert will also be called to question the sustainability of the development.

Laurie Mayer, spokesman for the SPPA and chairman of Woolverstone Residents' Association said: “Unfortunately we face a very unequal battle at this inquiry against a developer with very deep pockets, so any donation - however big or small - will be most welcome.

“We are appealing to anyone who loves this beautiful part of the world to help us protect and preserve it for future generations.

“We want to see the Ganges site put to good use, and soon, but the current plan is not the answer.”

The SPPA is concerned the development would lead to congestion on the B1456, the main road from Shotley to Ipswich.

They also feel there would be a strain on services on the peninsula.

The group is now writing to all 4,000 homes in the area, appealing for donations to their fund.

The letter says the scale of the proposed development would “damage our environment, diminish our quality of life and devalue our homes.”