A DEVELOPER'S hopes of naming a new housing complex "Station Maltings'' has run in to opposition from parish councillors who have other ideas.Acorn Properties want to name their development numbers one to 21 Station Maltings, in Station Road, Elmswell near Stowmarket.

A DEVELOPER'S hopes of naming a new housing complex "Station Maltings'' has run in to opposition from parish councillors who have other ideas.

Acorn Properties want to name their development numbers one to 21 Station Maltings, in Station Road, Elmswell near Stowmarket.

The developers argue the new development's design was based on the maltings buildings typical to Suffolk and is next to Elmswell Station.

But Peter Dow, clerk to Elmswell Parish Council, said councillors were unanimous in their hope that the "The Granary'' would be chosen.

Mr Dow said this is based on local knowledge about the use of the site in the past, backed up by historical evidence. He said the developer's proposal was unanimously rejected as having no link to the community's history.

But a spokesman for the developers, who are based at Shimpling near Bury St Edmunds, said: "The parish council have said that they would prefer for the development to be called The Granary. The parish council were asked for their views about a year ago and at that time did not respond.

"The difference between a maltings and a granary is that a maltings deals with barley usually for beer making and a granary deals with wheat for flour. Both are traditional to Suffolk.

"As no comment was received by the parish council one year ago, the site has been developed and sold under the name of Station Maltings.

"All services have been registered under this name. To change the name now seems very unjust, even more so when the difference in name is purely down to an agricultural process both traditional to Suffolk.

"Acorn Properties have had a lot of consultations with planning officers over the design, layout and appearance of this fairly controversial building which is now fully complete. It is a building that we are proud of. We strongly feel that it should remain as Station Maltings.''

Rosemary Bridges, an administration officer at Mid Suffolk District, has reported the dispute over the new street name, asking councillors to decide.

The authority's Social Policy Panel will meet from 5.30pm on Wednesday at their Needham Market chambers to debate the street name to be chosen.