A row is brewing up over a proposal that a new travellers’ site could be set up on the edge of a village just outside Ipswich.

The borough has proposed that a parcel of land beside the A14 next to its boundary with Bramford should be allocated for up to five travellers’ pitches.

The land is on the country side of the A14, next to the Clarice House leisure club. Although it is outside the A14 “box,” it is within the borough boundary.

A special meeting has been called by Bramford Parish Council next week to discuss the proposal after villagers expressed their concern.

Parish council chairman Kevin Welsby said there were fears in the village that the land could eventually hold up to 20 pitches – and there was a feeling that there was already enough provision for travellers in that area.

He said: “West Meadows is not that far away, and we know that a lot of the people who live there look to Bramford rather than Ipswich already.

“Most people in the village do not have a problem with that. The travelling community is part of the village and their children go to the school.

“But having another site within a mile is not going to help with integration into the town itself. It would be better if another location was found for the new site.”

The meeting is due to take place at the Loraine Victory Hall next Thursday – and will give villagers the opportunity to have their say before the parish council draws up its formal response the following week.

Ipswich council’s portfolio holder for planning Carole Jones emphasised there was no planning application for the creation of a new travellers’ site, the council was proposing to allocate the land in its local plan.

It would be for the county council to come up with a proposal to develop a travellers’ site at that location.

She said: “All councils have to allocate a site for travellers – and there is not much suitable land in the borough.

“This site is some distance from the main part of the village, and there are not many homes in the immediate area,

“However we are in a consultation period and we will listen to what people have to say before any final decisions on the site are taken.”