VILLAGERS have today opposed a 537-home development on land near to the £320million SnOasis winter sports resort site.Claydon and Whitton parish council is against plans that would double the number of homes in nearby Great Blakenham.
VILLAGERS have today opposed a 537-home development on land near to the £320million SnOasis winter sports resort site.
Claydon and Whitton parish council is against plans that would double the number of homes in nearby Great Blakenham.
It believes it would cause traffic problems and be an "over-development out of character with the rural location".
A council spokesman said: "The area is already under tremendous pressure and, with no significant road improvements or additions by either Persimmon or the SnOasis developers, the local roads simply would not cope."
The proposal - one of three linked to SnOasis currently being considered by Mid Suffolk District Council - is intended to create a new village heart on Hackney's Corner.
Onslow Suffolk Ltd, the scheme's developers, hope some of the estimated 3,000 workers expected to be employed at SnOasis would live on the site.
It would include a children's playing area, community facilities and a variety of houses, flats and apartments.
A doctor's surgery and police station could also be built in to cope with the expected influx of about 1,500 people to the area.
An extra police officer and community support officer is likely to be based at the station under the plans.
Godfrey Spanner, SnOasis developer, said: "This is based entirely on the expected increase in population and boosting the ratio of officers to people.
"The police are actually helping us design crime prevention into the scheme."
A spokesman for Suffolk police confirmed negotiations are at an advanced stage about future policing in the area.
The need for extra homes in the area has been identified by the East of England Regional Assembly to cope with the future growth of the county. This is not reliant on SnOasis being built.
The period for public consultation on the three proposals, including a new train station in Great Blakenham, runs until September 20.
Should the homes be built? What do you think of SnOasis? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk
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