SATELLITE dishes could soon be allowed on new homes at Ravenswood in Ipswich, after a cable company pulled out.Bellway Homes has applied to relax a ban on dishes, on houses in part of the first phase, and phase two of the development adjoining Gainsborough playing field.

By Tracey Sparling

SATELLITE dishes could soon be allowed on new homes at Ravenswood in Ipswich, after a cable company pulled out.

Bellway Homes has applied to relax a ban on dishes, on houses in part of the first phase, and phase two of the development adjoining Gainsborough playing field.

Three conditions need to be relaxed before dishes will be allowed on all houses and flats which don't face a public road or footpath.

But two residents have written to Ipswich Borough Council, whose Development Control Committee considers the application on Wednesday, to say fronts of houses facing roads are often the best place to put satellite dishes.

They say unless that is allowed, the use of dishes would be denied anyway.

The application from Bellway Homes follows news that NTL will not, after all, be extending its cable network within the site, or taking on new customers.

A report by a council officer states: "When this development was first planned, an underground digital cable service, to be provided by NTL, was negotiated and agreed upon. This meant that properties could access this service without the need for above ground satellite dishes etc, hence avoiding any undue intrusion and benefiting the character of the area. NTL have subsequently confirmed they will not be extending their cable network within the site, as there is now growing demand for the erection of satellite dishes from the occupiers.

"Indeed, some dishes have already been erected, but it is considered unreasonable to take any action against them until this issue is resolved."

Councillors have been recommended to approve the application, with the new condition that no television or radio aerials will be attached to homes, and satellite dishes will only be erected on houses and flats which don't front public roads or footpaths.