BEACH showers, more toilets, and better refreshment facilities are among the extra items town councillors want in Felixstowe's proposed £15 million-plus seafront development scheme.

BEACH showers, more toilets, and better refreshment facilities are among the extra items town councillors want in Felixstowe's proposed £15 million-plus seafront development scheme.

They have also called for improved cycle tracks through the 17-acre site, and better links for youngsters to bike to school.

But councillor David Cawdron was disappointed that a number of issues he felt were important were not taken up by councillors as they recommended Suffolk Coastal gives approval in principle to the project.

Mr Cawdron, who was allowed to speak but not vote, said: "I would have voted against it if I had been allowed to vote.

"I am not happy at all with this scheme - there are so many things wrong with it.

"I cannot accept that we will lose 15 acres of open land that the public has been able to enjoy for playing and walking their dogs in return for housing.

"And we are only getting £354,000 per care for this land right on Felixstowe seafront, with fantastic sea views, when land is selling in Woodbridge for £1.5m per acre. How can it really be that much cheaper?"

Mr Cawdron would like to see the Herman de Stern building kept and a new use found for it, and the amount of housing reduced and more open space provided as there is little room in the scheme for open-air activity.

He is also deeply concerned about the amount of public car parking included in the development - put forward by Bloor Homes and Suffolk Coastal council - and claims that there will be an overall loss of 503 parking spaces.

"There will also be a loss of some on-street parking, and inadequate provision for public transport," he added.

Town councillors' main concern is to see more of the 209 homes built as affordable homes or homes to rent. At present only ten per cent of the scheme is allocated as social housing.

They also want to see repair and conversion of the Martello Tower into an art gallery done as part of the scheme, more toilets, beach showers, bigger beach café, water fountain, litter and dog bins, and an emergency telephone.

There was also a need for traffic measures to help residents living in the area, which already suffers huge congestion all year round on Sundays.

n How do you think the scheme will affect the seafront area? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail EveningStarLetters@eveningstar.co.uk