Green wilderness could be bulldozed

A GREEN wilderness in the centre of Needham Market could be bulldozed for a new housing development – but residents fear it would create traffic chaos.

Plans have been submitted for a 41-space residential care home and 25 dwellings on an area known as Highlands, between Highlands Close and Stowmarket Road.

The land has been left untouched for many years, but Inter Care Residential wants to build a home for the elderly and adults with learning disabilities.

In addition, 25 two and three-bedroom town houses and apartments are proposed, which would be available for private purchase.

But residents living in Highlands Close, where a new vehicular access would be built, believe it would clog up their street with parked vehicles. Six parking spots currently available would lost through the construction of the new access.

Although around 45 spaces are expected to be included in the development, some residents fear this would not be enough to satisfy the demand.

Dorothy Talley, of Highlands Close, said: "This is a quiet road and I think it's too much. There would be a lot of traffic and I think there's enough down here already without this.

"It would make it into a really big estate."

Hilary Barker, also of Highlands Close, added: "The traffic it would create is my biggest concern. If the traffic comes down here, it would make the road very congested."

Meanwhile, the Rev Paul Daltry, whose vicarage backs on to the land, said he was worried he would be overlooked by some of the three-story buildings.

"It's good to see some proposals for the land but I'm concerned about the height of the development, he said.

"But if this was amended, I'd be all for it."

Do you think the green wilderness should be bulldozed? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk or join the forum at www.eveningstar.co.uk