PLANS to redevelop the former Pontins site and sweep away holiday homes at Hemsby were due to go on display at Hemsby Village Hall last night.

The public had the chance to view the plans from 5pm as part of the consultation process on the new Kingsway Village Garden, before a meeting was held at 7pm involving the public and local councillors to discuss the plans.

Landowner Northern Trust has also set up a dedicated development website for the project, to be built on the former Pontins site in Beach Road.

Outline plans to build 191 homes, a new care home and to provide public open spaces have been submitted to Great Yarmouth Borough Council.

If planning permission is given for the scheme, cash from the sale or rental of the homes would be used to create a �1m investment fund to pay for local tourist businesses to improve their facilities.

This fund could be managed by the borough council.

However, the proposals have attracted considerable criticism since being launched in April with village traders calling for holiday homes to remain on site to maintain Hemsby’s vital tourist trade.

Charles Reynolds, chairman of the council’s development control committee, was angry that the landowner had turned its back on a separate proposal which arose from public consultations for a split site providing 120 homes and a new caravan park.

He supported this proposal, stating the caravan park would have attracted tourists into the village and provided a boost for seaside attractions in Beach Road.

A Northern Trust spokesman said: “We know there is a great deal of interest in our proposals so the launch of the Kingsway Village Garden website will make it simple for people to view the plans.

“We hope the website will encourage residents and businesses to get in touch with their suggestions for the fund and continue to facilitate a valuable dialogue between us and the local community.”

To view the plans, visit www.kingswayvillagegarden.co.uk