Residents oppose homes plan

By John Howard

ALMOST 400 residents have signed a petition against a housing development which they fear would add to traffic problems in their town.

Developers hope to build 11 homes on land at Poplar Hill, Stowmarket, and Mid Suffolk District Council will discuss the planning application tomorrow.

The land has been empty for more than 10 years and is currently used by residents and visitors for parking.

A petition signed by 384 people against the development has been lodged with the council, which has also had objections from the town council and residents.

Stowmarket Town Council called on Mid Suffolk councillors to reject the application, arguing 11 homes on the half-acre site was an overdevelopment and the increase in traffic would cause even more problems in the area

Deepak Suchak, who runs the Poplar Hill post office next to the site, said: “There have been accidents here, there is a 20mph speed limit and now they want to build here. People feel strongly and do not want this.

“This is a narrow strip of land and 11 houses is too much to come out on to Poplar Hill where there are so many accidents.”

In a report to councillors, Gary Pullan, the council's planning control manager, said the houses would not represent an overdevelopment of the site which is near shops and a good bus route.

He recommended Bow Brandeston Ltd should be granted outline planning permission, subject to conditions including an assessment of the risk of flooding at the site.

“The local residents and other parking that currently takes place at the site is unauthorised,” added Mr Pullan.

“This opportunity for off-street parking has arisen since the previous buildings, which fronted on to Poplar Hill, were demolished in 1990.

“The site owner could fence off the site and prevent residents from parking on the land at any time.”

john.howard@eadt.co.uk