RUMOURS are today flying round a small Suffolk village, claiming that it has been chosen as a site for 400 new homes.Villagers are outraged by the suggestion – but community leaders have acted quickly to dispel the fears and dismiss the stories as "utter rubbish".

By Richard Cornwell

RUMOURS are today flying round a small Suffolk village, claiming that it has been chosen as a site for 400 new homes.

Villagers are outraged by the suggestion – but community leaders have acted quickly to dispel the fears and dismiss the stories as "utter rubbish".

Nigel Smith, chairman of Trimley St Martin Parish Council, said he had no idea where the rumour came from but many people were obviously worried by it.

"It is total and utter fabrication. There is absolutely no hint of anything like this going to happen in our village and I really cannot imagine where this has come from," he said.

"It seems one person has perhaps got a bee in their bonnet and turned it into a fourth grade rumour, and that's all it is.

"I have heard a lot of people are planning to attend the parish council meeting tonight but if they are expecting to hear a discussion they will be disappointed – though probably relieved – that there will not be any."

A letter is circulating in the village claiming that 400 houses are to be built on fields next to Trimley Sports and Social Club, opposite the Hand in Hand pub, and also on farmland further along High Road near Seamark Nunn.

The notice – which is unsigned – claims that plans will be on show at the council meeting at the Memorial Hall, though this will not be the case.

No-one in the village appeared to know the author of the letter or how the rumours started.

Resident Rosemary Gitsham said: "Many of my neighbours are extremely concerned at the proposal and several of us intend to go to the meeting to find out exactly what is happening."

Mr Smith said discussions had been taking place between the council and other organisations over the future of the village as part of the revision of the Local Plan, which allocates land for development and identifies possible projects.

"Nothing of this scale this has been discussed at all. Both Trimleys have had their fair share of large developments over the past 25 years and we would not be in favour of any more," he said.

Trimley St Mary had 800 new homes built when the Trinity Gardens estate was created between the High Road and the A14 for people moving to the area for jobs at the port and BT at Martlesham. In Trimley St Martin, hundreds of new homes were built on the St Martin's Green development.

The parish councils want to keep the green spaces which separate the twin villages from each other and also from Felixstowe. They might be prepared to allow very small-scale infill housing, especially for the elderly or young families, and projects that benefit the community.