New caravan store planned

By Jessica Nicholls

A FORMER builders' yard and DIY hire shop in Trimley St. Mary could soon be used to store up to 15 caravans.

Some residents in the Station Road area of the village are battling against the proposal amid fears that high winds could bring the touring vans toppling into their gardens.

But other residents have said that they are fully behind the new scheme, which they feel will breathe new life into a derelict area as well as providing employment.

Trimley St. Mary parish councillors are also against the proposal to change the use of the former builders' yard to light engineering to allow the owners to make metal work goods as well as to store the caravans.

Councillors are concerned that as well as the danger from high winds, there would also be loss of light to neighbouring properties that are built on lower land than the site.

Although the applicant agreed to relocate the caravans to the opposite side of the site away from neighbouring properties, the parish council still recommended refusal fearing that the new business would disturb the quietness of the area.

However when the previous owners of the site also pointed out that there were between seven and eight HGV deliveries to the yard every day.

In addition on average around ten customers a day would be likely to visit the site, which were mostly light or medium goods vehicles.

Both Suffolk Police and residents living nearby have also highlighted concerns about vandals being attracted to the site.

The police have also recommended stronger security measures than the existing ones to stop people breaking in.

The application is to be discussed by Suffolk Coastal's south area development control sub-committee on January 9 and has been recommended for approval, subject to controlling conditions including hours of operation and position of caravans.