THE fate of the multi-million pound SnOasis project will be decided at a special meeting in April, it has been revealed.Members of Mid-Suffolk District Council's Referrals Planning Committee will meet at Great Blakenham Village Hall on April 20 to consider three applications linked to the winter leisure complex.

By Danielle Nuttall

THE fate of the multi-million pound SnOasis project will be decided at a special meeting in April, it has been revealed.

Members of Mid-Suffolk District Council's Referrals Planning Committee will meet at Great Blakenham Village Hall on April 20 to consider three applications linked to the winter leisure complex.

It follows a huge consultation process which has involved thousands of residents, surrounding parishes and statutory parties.

During the meeting, the planning committee will hear the views of some of those who have taken part in the consultation process.

It will then decide to either approve the plans, which means it will inform the Government Office for the East (GO East) who have 21 days to respond, or that it cannot approve the plans.

If the committee refuses planning permission, SnOasis developers Onslow Suffolk Ltd have the right to appeal to the Planning Inspectorate to carry out a public inquiry.

Godfrey Spanner, managing director of Onslow Suffolk, said: “We are delighted that a date has now been set by Mid Suffolk and that we now have an end to the planning process in sight.

“I very much hope that everyone who supports SnOasis will make their views known to the council during the consultation period, and of course, that we get a positive outcome.

“During its three-year preparation period, the SnOasis project has attracted overwhelming support from the public across the region and also national organisations such as the British Olympic Association and Snowsport GB, not to mention the Minister of Sport.”

If given the go-ahead, the £300m SnOasis sports resort will be built near Great Blakenham and will include the largest indoor real snow ski dome in the world as well as a host of other sports facilities, restaurants, bars casinos, a 350-room four-star hotel and a 200-bed hostel.

The committee will consider not only a plan for the leisure facilities, but also a residential housing scheme and a railway station at the former Blue Circle cement works.

The council is set to write to everyone who has been involved in the consultation period to give them the opportunity of speaking.

Anyone wanting to participate should contact Vera Cousins, Democratic Services, Mid-Suffolk District Council, on 01449 727212 or email vera.cousins@midsuffolk.gov.uk .

A mobile telephone text campaign to encourage support for Snoasis has been set up enable people to declare their view.

Supporters should text the word SNOW and their name and postcode to text number 81025.