Residents fight Needham road scheme

MORE than 50 residents packed a public meeting to raise their concerns at a property developer's bid to build a new road in their community as part of a housing development.

People living in Needham Market are concerned about a road which was earmarked be built at the end of School Street as part of a development of six semi-detached houses and a block of five flats.

Residents feared that it could be used as a rat run by inconsiderate "boy racers'' and a residents group to oppose the road has already been formed.

The development, by V A Marriotts, is currently before Mid Suffolk District Council planners.

At Monday's meeting in the town's community centre residents heard that developers want to defer the application, withdraw the road and instead have two private drives for the new homes as they revise the development.

Some residents reacted favourably to the revision but others felt that too many homes were being planned for the site and the properties would still generate more traffic even without the road.

The meeting was attended by residents, councillors, officers and the police.

District councillor Wendy Marchant revealing that the developers had withdrawn the road plan.

A letter from the agents for the developers, which was read out to the meeting, said they had decided to do away with the through route on to Chainhouse Road.

Instead they hope to have a private drive on to Chainhouse Road.

A second drive would serve the development from the existing turning in to School Street.

Town mayor Ian Mason, said: "The road was the main problem, we have moved a long way tonight.

"The developers know we do not want a rat run, but this is not the end of the fight. There could be too many homes here for a private road.''

Chairman of the action group Mike Peters said they had made a real achievement stopping the road, but people may want to campaign now to make the development even more acceptable.