CAMPAIGNERS say changes to the designs of a proposed new superstore at Felixstowe have not overcome their objections.

Developers Albourne Property have resubmitted their proposals for a 30,000sq ft supermarket on land at the town’s railway station and have moved the building four metres away from homes, reducing its height and lowering the level of the site by two metres, so the store will be 2.6m lower overall.

In the original plans, the store was show as only 1.5m from back garden fences in High Road West. The service area has also been changed and all access for delivery vehicles will now be via Garrison Lane to improve safety.

However, campaign group Walton Felixstowe Community First feels the building will still be too close to, and have a huge impact on, homes in High Road West.

A spokesman for the group said: “Residents’ amenity will still be affected, as the building to gutter line remains the same height as the original. The supplementary design and access statement states the changes only give a ‘perceived lowering of the building’.

“The service yard has been made narrower which would doubtless lead to additional manoeuvring, associated engine noise; reversing audible warnings and diesel fume increase.

“The traffic is now required to turn left when exiting, on to an incline, which will again increase engine noise and fumes. Oncoming traffic will be approaching over the bridge potentially into the path of an emerging HGV.

“They have made no effort to alter the size of retail space, only the preparation area – the risk of severe impact to the vitality of the nearby town centre therefore still exists.”

Felixstowe Town Council is to reconsider the application at a special meeting of its plans committee on Monday, April 15 at 9.30am at Walton Community Hall, High Street, Walton.

There are currently two other applications for superstores in Felixstowe – Tesco have submitted plans for a similar size project at Walton Green, and Cranford (Felixstowe) Ltd for a 20,000sq ft store at Haven Exchange.