CONTROVERSIAL moves to create a holiday park on a field at Brightwell are today set to go ahead, despite a fresh volley of furious protests from residents.

CONTROVERSIAL moves to create a holiday park on a field at Brightwell are today set to go ahead, despite a fresh volley of furious protests from residents.

Councillors are on a collision course with villagers over the proposals and say they can see "no sound reasons" for refusing permission for the project.

New plans include a nature reserve on the site and also recreation facilities to stop the need for people travelling to other villages for entertainment.

Even though the scheme has been scaled-down – with only 64 log cabins now proposed instead of 122 – residents in Hemley, Waldringfield and Martlesham have objected.

As well as objections from the parish councils, Suffolk Coastal has received protests from 58 residents to the development at Foxburrow Farm and also from English Nature and Suffolk Preservation Society.

The main issue is still the impact on the honeypot destination of Waldringfield which is already full to bursting with visitors in summer and it is feared would be overwhelmed by more holidaymakers in the log cabins.

Waldringfield councillor Patricia O'Brien feared the "peaceful and charming setting" of the riverside village would be too much to resist for those staying in the log cabins and lead to frequent visits.

She said: "Although the applicant has mooted a Green Travel Plan, people, especially those on holiday, like to be independent and free to explore the surroundings at will.

"Further, I query the need for such an enterprise. There are over 600 units of caravans, both static and mobile, in close proximity to the proposed site.

"Three miles away at Nacton there are 540 units. Thus the total number of units, in this small area, is in excess of 1,000. If one widens the scope, to include Felixstowe, then the figure would increase to approximately 2,000."

Nacton councillor Veronica Falconer said the site would be gigantic compared to the populations of nearby villages. It could have 256 residents at the height of summer, compared with 41 in Brightwell, 48 in Hemley and 219 in Newbourne.

In a report to the south area development control sub committee on June 21, planners recommend approval for the log cabins, lake, 'pitch and put' course, informal sports area, children's play area and log cabin clubhouse as long as English Nature's concerns can be overcome.

The report stated: "It is highly unlikely that, even during the peak holiday season, there will be 100 per cent occupancy of the log cabins. The applicants estimate that this is likely to be 65pc falling to 10 to 15pc during the winter months."