Plans for a 70-pitch caravan site at Easton Farm Park faced a first bout of opposition on Tuesday when parish councillors agreed only to support the scheme if it was reduced by half.

Members of Easton Parish Council said it could not ignore the concerns voiced by local residents, predominantly centred around increased traffic, drainage and sewage issues and noise and light pollution, and that 35 pitches would be more appropriate to the rural setting.

Manager of Easton Farm Park Fiona Sidall, who is a parish councillor but did not take part in the debate or vote, said the existing five pitch caravan site no longer catered to demand. She said that, with the bulk of visitors coming at weekends and during school holidays, any traffic leading to the site would be 10% of that experienced during peak morning and evening school runs.

She said: “Extending Easton Farm Park will allow generations of families to holiday together, and will safeguard and develop employment that we are already offering to help to maintain our vibrant market town. [Guests] take visits to Framlingham, Orford, to the coast, they will spend money in and around the local area.”

The caravan site would open from March 1 to November 5. Landscape and planting work would be undertaken to help minimise the impact of noise and light pollution. Six letters of objection have been submitted to Suffolk Coastal District Council, and a number of local residents turned out to express their concerns at the parish council meeting on Tuesday.

One resident said: “In the holidays that’s when the tourist appeal to Easton is at it’s greatest. It’s disingenuous to say the traffic will have no impact.” He added that having 70 caravans on the site would effectively double the population of Easton.

Another resident added: “At the moment it’s a lovely view. Those caravans are going to look very ugly.”

A Letheringham resident added: “Easton is a conservation area. Any extensions in a conservation site should be of a scale that’s modest.” Councillors suggested the scheme be reduced to 35 pitches, with added conditions of a “lights out” rule at 10pm, low level lighting only and no open fires permitted.