AFTER more than a decade of inaction, Trimley St Mary looks set to approve ideas to allocate more land for housing.Parish councillors feel the time has come for growth, mainly to cater for the increasing needs of the elderly in the community but also to stop its young people from having to move away.

AFTER more than a decade of inaction, Trimley St Mary looks set to approve ideas to allocate more land for housing.

Parish councillors feel the time has come for growth, mainly to cater for the increasing needs of the elderly in the community but also to stop its young people from having to move away.

They say many youngsters want to stay in the village but have become frustrated at the lack of affordable housing and the amount of property for sale.

The proposals for the future development have been drawn up by the parish council ready for the revision of the Suffolk Coastal Local Plan, which sets out the policy for the whole district, to ensure its views are given top priority.

Rather than have district planners drawing up plans and then asking for residents' opinions, parish councillors have decided to make the first move by putting together a village plan to show what they want.

At this stage though councillors are not saying where they think the new homes should be built – or how many.

The topic is to be discussed at the annual parish meeting on April 8.

Following the development of more than 800 homes in the late 1970s and early 1980s on Farmlands, there is little land left in the village readily suitable for development.

Possible sites though include fields off Thurmans Lane, though access onto the High Road would probably be via Faulkeners Way.

A document drawn up by the parish council stated:

"In general, the council now feels that there is a need, after about 12 years of virtually no growth, to recognise the need for some additional housing. To help particularly those younger parishioners now seeking to set up homes of their own at prices that are more affordable.

"The council does not want to see a migration of its young people from the village and the members consider that the provision of affordable housing will help to counter this.

"There is also a need for additional sheltered housing for the elderly now that private provision for the care of the elderly is being reduced."

The council is keen to ensure Trimley St Mary remains a separate village from Trimley St Martin or Felixstowe.

It also wants to see efforts to make a proper "village centre".

It vows to fight any suggestion that a new access road and third port gate is built across open countryside from the

village.

Other issues raised by the council include a need for more recreational facilities, especially on the A14 side of the High Road, and a need for meeting places for restless youngsters.