Anger over plans to build 10 holiday lets in Ringsfield

Permission was first granted for a scheme to build ten holiday homes and a shop back in 2011 in the village near Beccles.

Locals say that the project has "barely developed" other than the "scattering of a few breezeblocks".

Now fresh battle lines have been drawn after a new application has been submitted to increase the height of the holiday homes.

Residents are using this as their opportunity to raise awareness of their frustrations to the plans as they feel they will affect the value of their homes and infrastructure in the village.

The amendment to the approved application from 2011 is for the 10 holiday homes to have two storeys, whereas applicant Paul Green's approved plan was for them to be single storey structures.

The community is using this as an opportunity to have the project they opposed in 2011 scrapped.

Bill Moore, 86 and who was in the RAF for two years before serving the Metropolitan Police in London for 26 years, has lived in the village for 40 years.

Mr Murray (left) and Mr Moore (right) are worried the holiday homes will impact the value of their homes and have safety issues on the roads of the village (Image: Bruno Brown)

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He believes that the village has been let down by East Suffolk Council for allowing the project to drag on for 12 years.

Mr Moore, whose home backs onto the site, said: "In my opinion, the planning committee have not done their job, they have allowed this project to remain as it is for 12 years, it's ridiculous.

"This is all they have done in 12 years, to keep the East Suffolk Council planning committee happy they have simply laid a breeze block or two a year and we are stuck with this eyesore still.

"The planning committee should be ashamed, they clearly have no regard for the residents of this village by allowing this to happen."

Pictured is a view from the village green which residents say is an eyesore and the progress of the project has barely changed in 12 years (Image: Bruno Brown)

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Roy Murray, 72, is worried the development will impact the value of his home.

He said: "It makes no sense to have a commercial set up in the heart of a residential area, it is going to be devastating for our peaceful village.

"If the holiday park was a mile or so out of the village I could have no issues, I am in favour of promoting tourism in our area.

"Both Bill and I's house values will be affected by the noise, and we, as I know many other neighbours of ours will, shall be protesting for our tax band to be dropped as a result."

The project is in the centre of Ringsfield which faces the village green (Image: Bruno Brown)

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Within the site the applicant plans to build a deli and a shop, which was part of the leverage to appease residents when the first plan was approved in 2011.

But Mr Moore and Mr Murray say the village doesn't have the infrastructure to cope with tourists regularly coming and going.

Mr Murray said: "Within the plans, there is only parking for one car per holiday let, then with the shop and restaurant it means cars will overspill out of the resort onto the road.

"The overspill concerns us in the community, it will cause carnage on our village road, I have had several cars smash into my wall over the years."

It is believed that this will be the deli / shop at the front of the holiday resort site (Image: Bruno Brown)

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Mr Moore added: "The road is very busy in the mornings and afternoons with parents doing the school run, and children using the park after school.

"Having cars parked on the road will cause endless problems, the road is small but busy and we have tractors passing regularly.

"It is unfeasible to think cars can park beside our green and along the road without creating problems."

In response to the anger in the community, an East Suffolk Council spokesperson said: “An application has been submitted and will be considered in due course, with regard to all material considerations and the council’s adopted planning policies.”

The plans state there is to be a fishing lake dug in the centre of the development (Image: Bruno Brown)

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The applicant, Mr Green, did not respond with a comment on the application.

The outcome will be decided by the planning committee, and any representations must be made by June 5.

To find the full application search reference DC/23/1750/VOC in East Suffolk Council's planning portal.