FAMILIES who designed their own community park for a prime seafront site have been told there could be room for their ideas in a new development.Residents in Manor Terrace, Felixstowe, were so fed up with being told there was no alternative to building nearly 200 homes on the resort's south seafront that they drew up a scheme of their own.

FAMILIES who designed their own community park for a prime seafront site have been told there could be room for their ideas in a new development.

Residents in Manor Terrace, Felixstowe, were so fed up with being told there was no alternative to building nearly 200 homes on the resort's south seafront that they drew up a scheme of their own.

They won the support of the government's Countryside Agency for a maritime park and could receive more than £50,000 towards the project.

Resident Tony Taylor, who is co-ordinating the venture, met Suffolk Coastal council officers and the Countryside Agency to examine the proposals for a Doorstep Green open space opposite Manor Terrace.

"Mr Taylor has suggested that rather than the whole site being formally laid out for various leisure uses some of the area should remain as an open area for informal recreation," said David Smith, cabinet member for the seafront project.

"In principle it is possible to earmark some of the south seafront for informal recreation. However, this would be subject to retaining the overall design principles for this seafront park and ensuring that sufficient income was generated from the residential development to fund the leisure element."

Latest designs from the council's development partner Bloor Homes for the 17 acres envisage 189 homes, an amphitheatre, play areas, sculpture trail, beach café, picnic area and car parking.

"After the Countryside Agency was given full details of what is being proposed by Bloor Homes, it took the view that it included much of what it would expect to find in a Doorstep Green. It offered the suggestion to Mr Taylor and his group that they should ask Suffolk Coastal to incorporate an informal play area at the Manor End area," said Mr Smith.

"I would be interested to see whether Mr Taylor would like us to include an informal recreation area within the scheme.

"A certain amount of housing is required in order to pay for the leisure elements of the proposals, including some housing in front of Manor Terrace. There would also be room for an informal recreation area in front of Manor Terrace if that is something that Mr Taylor and his group would like us to have a look at."

Mr Taylor and his fellow residents are now looking at the council's new plans to see whether they feel their idea is compatible.

They had wanted to use around three acres for open space with maritime gardens, a play area, picnic site, dog exercise area and beach huts.

Funding from the Countryside Agency of up to £53,000 could be available to help purchase the land and meet some of the development costs, but residents would have to raise more than £15,000 towards the scheme.

WEBLINKS: www.countryside.gov.uk/doorstepgreen

www.suffolkcoastal.gov.uk