AS the first deadline for residents to have their say on a masterplan for the northern fringe approaches, campaigners have stepped up calls for the process to be delayed.

The Northern Fringe Protection Group is concerned the borough is going ahead with drawing up a masterplan for the area before a full revision of its core strategy has been completed. The group has now written to residents across a wide area of north Ipswich asking them to make their views known to the borough by the end of the week.

Officials have given residents until this Saturday to say what they want to see in the masterplan.

The principle of developing the northern fringe of Ipswich was approved by a government inspector who examined the borough’s core strategy (local plan) last year.

However, the inspector said that work on the northern fringe should not start until a masterplan for the area – including new roads, schools, shops, community facilities, and business premises – was agreed.

The inspector also said that a review of the core strategy should be completed before the extent of the northern fringe development was settled. Rod Brooks, chairman of the protection group, says in his letter: “We strongly believe that a review of the core strategy will show that the development of the northern fringe is not necessary at this time.”

Councillor with responsibility for planning, Carole Jones, said it was necessary to start preparing the masterplan now.

She said: “This is a very major task and we need time to do a proper job and get a full plan.”

For more background see link above right.