UFFORD: Campaigners opposed to plans to build a giant warehouse on the outskirts of their village have stepped up their fight.

Residents in Ufford, near Woodbridge, have formed a protest group to battle proposals by Notcutts.

The garden specialists have handed an application to Suffolk Coastal District Council for permission to build a 10,000sq metre distribution warehouse on a nursery site in Yarmouth Road.

Bosses say the scheme will be in keeping with the local area and vital for the future of their business but local residents are deeply concerned and have now formed Ufford Action Group (UAG).

They claim it is an overdevelopment, will lead to a daily increase in HGV movements between 5am and 11pm and contravene a number of planning policies.

Spokesman John Skinner said: “The proposal is outrageous. If this were approved the end result could well be a full scale industrial estate on the remainder of Notcutts’ landholding in our village.

“Of all the places to put a national distribution warehouse with frequent daily movements of HGVs, why on Earth would you choose a greenfield site on a local road, close to a conservation area and adjacent to ancient woodland?.”

Both Ufford and Melton parish council have voiced concerns over the plans.

But William Notcutt, deputy chairman of Notcutts, has defended the project saying it reflects their requirement for the long-term development of the business and would employ 25 people.

He said the estimated traffic flow at the site would be no greater than when it is operating to full capacity as a production nursery.

What do you think of the plans? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.