IF YOU blinked you probably missed it - the final display at the Lamb Hotel from East Cambs District Council of their Draft Masterplan for Ely which they plan to push into effect in January or February of 2010. Watch out for council meetings on Tuesday,

IF YOU blinked you probably missed it - the final display at the Lamb Hotel from East Cambs District Council of their Draft Masterplan for Ely which they plan to push into effect in January or February of 2010. Watch out for council meetings on Tuesday, January 19 at 2.30pm and Tuesday, February 23 at 6.30pm, but always check dates and times on 01353 665555. Be warned, in my opinion, the majority of councillors want to go for significant extra house building around Ely, 3,000 - 6,0000 at the lowest estimate, increasing the population by nearly a third, to 23,000, bringing more High Street names to the shopping centre; a multi-storey car park somewhere nearby and bars and restaurants described as a 'cultural quarter'. where the Paradise Sports Centre is now. That sums up what they promise now. If we want anything different, they have given us only till next Monday, November 16 to have our final say.

Some copies of the Draft and a DVD have been lying about at the council offices and some libraries since the end of September. So they have given us a bare seven weeks to digest and consider the 77-page document. If you were lucky, you might have found a seven-page questionnaire with the copy of the Draft Masterplan. They say at the top of it that "We welcome your views". But what will they do with them when the committee which drew it up called itself the Growth Delivery Sub-Committee? They have not arranged for any public meeting where there could be a genuine exchange of views, let alone an actual vote by citizens. Clearly most of them have made up their minds to 'go for growth' whatever the people of Ely can see is better for the city. Why not a period of preservation and accommodating recent rapid development with better supporting infrastructure, especially road links to the south.

I took an hour to complete my questionnaire, but at this late stage the best thing to do would be to respond in one of two ways by next Monday: in writing to the council offices at Nutholt Lane, Ely or go to the website at: www.eastcambs.gov.uk

You need to make it clear whether you are in favour of expansion for the city or would like to see no more growth without infrastructure and further consultation of our citizens.

GILLIAN TURBERFIELD