RESIDENTS have been given an insight into the possible development of their market town in future years. Mid Suffolk District Council yesterday held the first of its Local Plan community workshops that are taking place across the district to brief residents on possible developments in their towns and villages.

RESIDENTS have been given an insight into the possible development of their market town in future years.

Mid Suffolk District Council yesterday held the first of its Local Plan community workshops that are taking place across the district to brief residents on possible developments in their towns and villages.

The first workshop was held at the United Reformed Church in Stowmarket, with residents learning what sites had been earmarked for development in the Local Plan, the blueprint for the future of the area.

Residents also saw displays about the council's hopes for improving the town, including refurbishing historic buildings and attracting bars and cafes in a new leisure quarter in Ipswich Street.

One of the issues to come out of the Local Plan is the possibility of up to 800 homes being built on green fields in the Stowmarket area.

George Wimpey UK has applied to have land between Chilton Fields and Onehouse earmarked for new homes in the Local Plan.

But residents in Onehouse fear they could lose their identity as they become a suburb of Stowmarket and their MP, David Ruffley, has called a public meeting on Friday to discuss the proposal.

Mr Ruffley said: "If the proposed development goes ahead, Onehouse will effectively become part of Stowmarket.

"While villages cannot remain set in stone and must move with the times to survive, a housing development on this scale is out of proportion to the size of the existing village.

"Villagers want to retain open land between Onehouse and Stowmarket to retain their identity as a village."

The meeting will take place at Onehouse's community centre from 7pm and a planning officer from the district council will attend it.