A RESIDENTS' group in north Ipswich are today preparing to voice their opposition to an application to build on Ipswich School's playing fields.

A RESIDENTS' group in north Ipswich are today preparing to voice their opposition to an application to build on Ipswich School's playing fields.

The Northern Fringe Protection Group is gearing up for a public meeting taking place tonight where an outline planning application - which could see hundreds of homes being built on the site - will be discussed.

The school is aiming to sell the land near Valley Road to fund a new, state-of-the-art sports park in green field land off Tuddenham Road.

The public meeting, which has been organised by Ipswich Council, will see Ipswich School representatives present the proposals. There will then be an opportunity for those opposed to have their say, and there will also be a chance for the audience to ask questions.

John Ames, who is secretary for the Northern Fringe Protection Group, said: “This is not just a head in the sand 'NIMBY' thing. “The whole of the northern fringe [of Ipswich] is going to eventually be developed, and we believe there should be an integral plan for this, rather than starting with a small scale initiative to raise funds for a fee paying school.”

Karl Daniels, chairman of the governors at Ipswich School, said: “The objective is for the sports park to be self-funded through the development of our existing playing fields.

“We have proposed quality low density housing and that is what we will seek approval for. No developer can go against that specification unless the council receives another application.”

The meeting is taking place in the Grand Hall of the Corn Exchange at 7.30pm. The consultation for the plans is ongoing until July 14.

Should the proposal be given the go-ahead? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.