THE proposals for developing the former HMS Ganges training centre for boy seamen at Shotley have been posted on a planning authority's website because they are considered so important.

THE proposals for developing the former HMS Ganges training centre for boy seamen at Shotley have been posted on a planning authority's website because they are considered so important.

Martin Price, Babergh District Council's development control manager, said the council felt the scheme to build about 500 homes on the site was of such importance both nationally and locally that it wanted to ensure the information was as accessible as possible.

The planning application by site owners Haylink is one of the biggest the council has ever received.

It proposes a mix of larger and affordable homes to be built in three sections with a village square containing shops, a new Ganges museum and workplaces in the centre no more than five minutes walk from any of the houses.

Historic features, including the famous mast, two martello towers and the remains of a recently- discovered fort will all be preserved.

In the four days since the plans were posted on the website there have been 184 visitors.

Mr Price said many of them had also e-mailed their observations about the proposals.

The council has also received a number of letters from former Ganges boy sailors, many of them concerned about the future of the mast that featured so large in their lives during training.

Babergh has been anxious to reassure them that the mast is in no danger from the plans.

The HMS Ganges details can be accessed at http://www.babergh-sout-suffolk.gov.uk/planctrl/planapps/ganges/ganges.htm

They can also be viewed in full at Babergh's Corks Lane, Hadleigh, offices, or by contacting the clerk to Shotley Parish Council.

Details of how to make comments on the proposals are also posted on the website.

The closing date for comments is October 1.