Seafront plan rejected again

AMBITIOUS plans to transform Felixstowe's south seafront have been unanimously rejected by councillors in the town.

Felixstowe Town Council held an extraordinary meeting last night to discuss the revised plans for the 17-acre site.

Developers Bloor Homes want to transform the area, which includes the fire-ravaged Herman de Stern building, into a maritime park but a previous planning application was turned down after it attracted hundreds of letters of objection.

The company have now submitted revised plans but councillors are still not happy with the changes.

Mike Ninnmey said: “I think the main reason for rejection is that councillors do not feel enough has been changed.

“We feel it still goes against planning regulations for the area.

“The town council had submitted a list of things that they would like to see included in the plans but they are not there.”

The site is owned by Suffolk Coastal District Council and extends from Orford Road to the Manor Club.

Bloor Homes want to transform it into a mixture of housing and leisure facilities.

Part of the site would be earmarked for a restaurant or pub, but in the meantime would be open space, with flowers, and pedestrian boulevards and a cycle way.

There would be apartments immediately behind fronting on to Orford Road.

The rest of the plans include playparks for children of all ages, a small stage and performance area, gardens and picnic areas, the Martello Tower converted to an art gallery, refreshments kiosks, beach huts and toilets, and 261 car parking spaces.

To pay for it, 158 homes - 51 fewer than previously proposed, and most of them two-bed flats - would be built.

The plans are expected to go before Suffolk Coastal District Council in December.

Do you think the Town Council were right to reject the plans? Write in to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk