A PUBLIC meeting is to be held in the historic twin Trimleys to discuss the options for a future housing development, amid fears that hundreds of new homes could be built in the villages.

By Richard Cornwell

A PUBLIC meeting is to be held in the historic twin Trimleys to discuss the options for a future housing development, amid fears that hundreds of new homes could be built in the villages.

Details of the options for the future of the Suffolk Coastal area are set to be published today - and people will only have eight weeks to make their views known.

The district is to have 10,200 new homes by 2021, though because of existing permissions councillors have to find sites for just 3,620.

However, they would like to see the majority of these built in the Felixstowe area, partly because of the new jobs expansion of the port will bring, but also because consultants have warned the resort could die unless it grasps the nettle and develops.

Villagers at Trimley St Mary and Trimley St Martin fear development of the Felixstowe area will lead to green fields in the two communities being used for homes, especially as landowners Trinity College have put forward a “vision” showing how this could take place.

Now the two parish councils have invited Andy Smith, deputy leader of Suffolk Coastal and leader of the development task group, to attend a public meeting to explain the issues, and he has agreed.

A date and venue for the meeting will be announced soon.

A joint statement from the councils said councillors were keen they and residents should have the opportunity to discuss plans first-hand with the decision makers.

The statement said: “We are concerned that the housing numbers used in the Local Development Framework are out of date and that there has not been enough consultation with residents.

“The councillors at Suffolk Coastal involved in putting this document together have relied heavily on the David Lock Report which came out last year, and included Option 4, which showed significant housing development, particularly Trimley St Martin.”

Suffolk Coastal is set to put six options before the public.

They range from suggesting 710 homes in Felixstowe and the Trimleys - for which the sites already exist - to 3,430 homes, which includes the 710 already identified.

Final plans will be submitted to government in early 2008, with a public inquiry in summer 2008.

WEBLINK: www.suffolkcoastal.gov.uk

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