VILLAGE representatives are set to keep up the pressure as the borough meets today to plot the next stage of the northern fringe development.

The proposed 3,500-home development would be built to the north of Valley Road in Ipswich, extending towards Westerfield.

Peter Miller, chairman of Westerfield Parish Council, said one of the village’s three concerns had been addressed – but there were still two issues to be resolved.

He said: “We are anxious to retain the separate identity of the village. The establishment of a country park and open spaces goes a long way to easing our concerns on that.

“However we are worried about two other issues – the effect of the new development on traffic, and on the drainage problems that could result.”

Mr Miller said the traffic concerns were both about problems getting into Ipswich because of extra traffic on Westerfield, Henley, Tuddenham, and Valley roads.

But there was also a concern that more traffic between the north west and north east of Ipswich would use Lower Road and Church Lane in the village as “rat runs”.

He said: “We already see quite a lot of rat-running through the village but if something isn’t done it will get much worse.”

The other concern is the capability of the brook that runs alongside Lower Road to cope with all the water that drains off the area.

Mr Miller said: “At the moment it takes all the water that drains off the fields – but they are able to absorb a lot of the water before they reach the brook.

“Once it is built on, the rain water will run off and that could cause flooding if there isn’t major drainage work done first.”

n Are you concerned about the development of the Northern Fringe? Write to Your Letters, Ipswich Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail starletters@archant.co.uk