THE tide of opposition is growing to proposals for a heritage and conservation centre in Dedham Vale.

More than 100 members of Stour Valley Action Group attended a meeting to discuss the latest, fifth application from established family firm Bunting and Sons.

The fresh plans predict 316,250 tourists will visit Stour Valley Visitor Centre at Horkesley Park each year with 150 jobs being generated.

The proposals, a scaled-down version of the project rejected by Colchester Council last year, aim to transform the redundant glasshouse nursery site into a country park, Suffolk Punch breeding centre, art gallery and visitor centre.

It does not include any building in the Dedham Vale area of outstanding natural beauty, but members of the lobby group still found the scheme unacceptable.

The group’s chairman Will Pavry said the main reasons included the potential destruction of the peace and tranquillity of the area of outstanding natural beauty and the unacceptable increase in traffic, particularly on the minor roads in the area.

Mr Pavry also described the centre as a Trojan Horse, allowing retail into the protected area. He added: “There is no need for any of the major elements of Horkesley Park.

“All the elements are available elsewhere in East Anglia at other attractions or, in the case of the open countryside, freely available for all in the Stour Valley.”

Mr Pavry also questioned the predicted visitor numbers, estimating they were likely to be closer to 150,000 and he challenged the centre’s financial viability.

He said it also falls foul of planning policies as set out in Colchester’s borough plan.

Other groups have also registered their objection to the scheme, including the Dedham Vale Society, the Colne Stour Countryside Association, Nayland with Wissington Conservation Society, Council for the Protection of Rural England and the Suffolk Preservation Society.

More than 200 objections have also been registered on the council’s website .

Kate Bunting, partner of Bunting and Sons said: “Everyone is entitled to express their opinions. However, it is a great shame the action group has such jaundiced views which the vast majority of people just do not share.

“We believe it has a completely false impression of what Horkesley Park will be like and is going to stick to that come what may.”

Hector Bunting, a partner of the firm, added: “Far-reaching professional studies and assessments have been undertaken which confirm Stour Valley Visitor Centre at Horkesley Park will be beneficial across the board with no significant adverse effects.”