DESPITE a need for at least 1,700 new homes in the Felixstowe and Trimley area, no sites have yet been agreed or identified for any housing in the historic twin villages.

DESPITE a need for at least 1,700 new homes in the Felixstowe and Trimley area, no sites have yet been agreed or identified for any housing in the historic twin villages.

But residents left a public meeting feeling housing on their fields is inevitable - after being told there were no easy answers and not everyone would be happy with the outcome.

Andy Smith, Suffolk Coastal deputy leader, said some tough decisions had to be made to ensure a healthy future for the district.

Because of smaller households, people living longer and choosing to stay in their own homes, the resort and the two villages needed 1,700 homes minimum just to stop the population declining and young people having to move away to find homes.

The six options for housing - four of which envisage more than 2,200 homes in Felixstowe, Trimley St Martin and Trimley St Mary in the next 15 years - were the first stage in deciding where housing should go.

A preferred option will only be chosen after consultation and there will still be a public inquiry.

But villagers who packed the public meeting last night at the Memorial Hall wanted to know if there was to be new housing, where would it go.

Mr Smith though would not be drawn.

“At this stage there are no specific sites proposed - we are still two stages away from that,” he said.

“There are no maps in drawers and no hidden agenda.

“The Trimley debate has been bedevilled by the assumption people seem to have that because a large number of homes is being suggested for the Felixstowe and Trimley area, all those homes will go in the two Trimley villages.

“The purpose of this public consultation is for communities across Suffolk Coastal to look at the options and say what they think - people in Grundisburgh and Woodbridge may want more homes, some may say they should be scattered right across the district, or placed on the edge of Ipswich.

“We will listen to what people have to say and then a preferred option will be agreed.”

He suggested people could look at maps and see for themselves where they thought housing might go and the closest indication he would give as to possible sites was land in Trimley and Walton with potential access to the A14.

Residents have until April 2 to send in their comments to the council.

Where do you think new homes should be built in the Felixstowe area? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail EveningStarLetters@eveningstar.co.uk