By RICHARD CORNWELLFelixstowe editorrichard.cornwell@eveningstar.co.uk>A VILLAGE vicar today stepped into the debate over moves to build thousands of new homes in the community where he ministers – criticising experts' comments over traffic.

By Richard Cornwell

By RICHARD CORNWELL

Felixstowe editor

richard.cornwell@eveningstar.co.uk>

A VILLAGE vicar today stepped into the debate over moves to build thousands of new homes in the community where he ministers – criticising experts' comments over traffic.

Rev Terry Wells, vicar of Trimley, said no-one had asked the church for its views on the ideas for the twin villages' future, even though the area around its historic churches was earmarked as a "village centre".

Landowners Trinity College, Cambridge, have drawn up a vision for the future of Trimley St Martin and Trimley St Mary, but the plans have caused uproar.

It is feared as many as 3,000 new homes could be built and residents are not convinced that traffic calming and a new link road from the Walton by-pass to Walton High Street will cut the number of cars travelling through the villages.

Mr Wells said: "Many assumptions have been made which do not bear close scrutiny.

"For example, it would be amusing, if it were no so potentially dangerous, to suggest that these proposals would reduce the amount of traffic using the only main road through the villages.

"Growth on the scale suggested must surely result in an increased amount of traffic in an area already suffering congestion.

"Likewise when great play is made of the presence of St Martin's and St Mary's churches and their surrounding areas, in the future attractiveness of the new heart for the villages, nobody saw fit to ask representatives of the churches for their views.

"Had this happened, the planners would have had the chance to hear how those responsible for two of the major public buildings in the parishes envisaged their future use of the good of the whole community."

Writing in his parish newsletters, he said the church was actively considering how best to use its buildings, which have already been modernised.

"I do not for one moment think that any community wants to stay exactly as it is. Sensible and reasonable plans have to be made to cope with the future needs," he added.

In the report commissioned by Trinity College's agents Bidwells, it is argued that the link road across the fields in Walton to Candlet Road, providing easy access to a new dock spur roundabout with flyover, would ease the traffic flows.

This would encourage people not to use Trimley as a through-route by providing improved and quick access to the A14.

But villagers at recent public meetings have felt the extra housing will generate far more cars using High Road than any link road would remove.

n What do you think? Write to Your Letters, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail EveningStarLetters@eveningstar.co.uk

WEBLINKS: www.savetrimley.co.uk

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