Snow centre plans to be debated

The snow dome slope would be almost 500m long

Villagers will have their chance to question developers about a £350m winter sports complex in Suffolk at a public meeting on Wednesday evening.

The Snoasis centre would be built on the site of a redundant cement works at Great Blakenham, near Ipswich.

However, some residents are concerned about the impact of the ski dome complex on the environment and increased traffic congestion.

Developers Onslow Suffolk are to attend the meeting at the Village Hall.

1000 jobs created

The planning application includes a 500m-long piste and other facilities for winter sports, including snow boarding, ice hockey, speed skating, ice and dry climbing walls and bobsleigh.

An application for planning consent, which also includes houses, shops and a railway station, has been submitted to Mid Suffolk District Council and is expected to go before councillors later this year.

Developers claim the finished scheme would generate about 1,000 jobs and millions of pounds for the local economy.

The British Olympic Association (BOA) has given its backing to the complex.

The BOA said the facilities would be a boost for winter sport and would help develop the Olympians of the future.