Resident participation urged on Onehouse, Stowmarket, Battisford and Combs boundary changes by Mid Suffolk District Council

Resident participation is being urged by the Mid Suffolk District Council on contentious boundary changes.

As part of the council’s community governance review, the changes could see boundary arrangements updated in two different areas of the district.

Among these changes is a contentious alteration to the border between Onehouse and Stowmarket, riddled with disagreement over existing houses along Union Road.

The alteration has seen councillors from both sides argue their case about the future of Union Road.

Arguments have come down to the money which would be created as a result of taxation and needed to fund the services town and parish councils provide — the cost of which will be heightened as a result of the new residents.

Cllr John Matthissen, who represents Onehouse, supports the council’s recommendation to ‘retain the existing historic boundary’ which would see Union Road homes linked to the Paupers Graves opposite.

He added: “This heritage asset has been restored and improved by the Onehouse village, and as they will soon take responsibility for further adjacent land they need the additional funding provided by the new homes.”

On the other hand, Stowmarket councillor, Terence Carter, argues the proposals to retain the same borders ‘are very difficult to understand’.

He said: “I would suggest that the 1000 new residents on the estate will look to Stowmarket for their schools, healthcare services, sports clubs, eating and entertainment facilities rather than expecting to find them in the Village Hall at Onehouse.”

Also waiting public opinion is an alteration to the border between Combs and Battisford which would affect the Bowl Meadow development and some properties on Bildeston Road, currently within Combs.

Unlike its counterpart within the review, there has been no controversy with this change, with district council recommendations wishing for the boundaries to remain as they are, but agreeing the development should become part of Barrisford.

The consultation is currently ongoing and will end on December 22 before the final recommendations are published in January.

A full council meeting on the matter is expected in February.