Today local residents, councillors and community representatives gathered to make one thing absolutely clear: West Suffolk does not want the proposed “Forest City”.

The proposal would see a vast new city built between Haverhill and Newmarket, covering tens of thousands of acres of countryside and fundamentally changing the character of our rural communities.

Standing together today were Cllr Bobby Bennett, Cllr Nick Clarke, Nick Timothy MP, Cllr Joe Mason and Cllr Grahame Cone, united in opposition to a development that many local people believe is completely out of scale with the area. A hugely experienced team working for the community. Help them continue by lending them your your vote in May.

This is not modest growth being proposed. It is the creation of a city on a scale rarely seen in rural England. 370,000 houses for 1 million people.

Residents are rightly asking serious questions about whether such a proposal is realistic or responsible.

Key concerns include:

Impact on existing residents – they choose to live in villages not a mega city.

Water supply in an already water-stressed region.

Transport infrastructure and road congestion.

Loss of productive farmland and countryside.

Pressure on schools, GP surgeries and local services.

The wider environmental impact on West Suffolk.

These are not minor issues. They go to the heart of whether such a development could ever work. And of course, Highpoint prison set to become the largest prison in England, will be in the middle of this new city.

A Strong Local Response

It was encouraging to see such a strong turnout from residents across the area who care deeply about the future of West Suffolk. Our short notice meet up attracted far more than we expected. Add to that the thousands who have already signed the petition.

People from many villages came together to show that the countryside around Haverhill and Newmarket is not empty land waiting to be built on. It is a living landscape of farms, villages, wildlife and historic communities that deserve protection.

Standing Up for Our Communities

The upcoming County Council elections in May will be an important moment for residents to have their say about the future of the area.

Local representatives must be prepared to stand up for their communities and challenge proposals that would overwhelm local infrastructure and destroy our countryside.

West Suffolk supports sensible growth and new housing where it is appropriate. Our youngsters deserve housing. But a development on the scale of the proposed Forest City raises profound questions that must be properly answered.

Today showed something important: local people are ready to stand together and make their voices heard.

And this campaign is only just beginning.