A PARISH is refusing to say what it thinks about where new homes could go in its village after a row with the district council. Swanton Morley Parish Council has decided to refuse to comment on a number of pockets of land added to a proposed planning blueprint by Breckland Council.

A PARISH is refusing to say what it thinks about where new homes could go in its village after a row with the district council.

Swanton Morley Parish Council has decided to refuse to comment on a number of pockets of land added to a proposed planning blueprint by Breckland Council.

And, at its meeting on Monday night, has said it is going to write to the government department for communities and the local government ombudsman over what it says has been a disgusting treatment of the village.

The parish council claims it has not been given full information about plans for its village and that a list of late-submitted pockets of land for consideration in Breckland's local development framework (LDF) rendered redundant a public consultation they held last year.

Chairman Roger Atterwill said: 'Last year's exercise with the public was a waste of time and money. As a parishioner I am furious.'

He told the meeting that had the council known about a planning application for 20 new homes in the village they would have asked for an allocation of 30 new homes for Swanton Morley, not 50.

The council was also upset a 'strategic housing land availability' assessment, which found potential for 190 new homes in the village, was carried out after villagers were consulted - although the policy for 50 would still remain.

And it says its consultation held last year was pointless now that more sites in the village have been put forward for inclusion in the LDF - consultation by Breckland on these is due to start this month.

'Why didn't they do the strategic assessment first?' said Mr Atterwill. 'It would have helped us with our consultation.

'And there is no assurance more sites will not be put forward.'

The meeting on Monday heard that the council had been told it could make its comments on the LDF and these would be looked at by an independent inspector who would decide if they had a case.

The latest set of plans showing where development could be built in the village will be on show at the parish council's first surgery for parishioners on February 21 from 9.30am to 11am in the village hall bar.