A CONTROVERSIAL proposal to create a business park on farmland in St John's, Worcester has sparked arguments on both sides of the debate.

So far, more than 70 letters both supporting and opposing the plan to build offices and light industrial units on the 27-acre Grove Farm site, creating 1,000 jobs, have been sent to the city council. With just a week to go for the public to make their feelings known, Westlea Close resident John Isherwood said: "The reasons for objecting to this so-called plan, are the same reasons applicable to earlier proposals to the Grove Farm site being developed - namely inadequate roads causing traffic problems throughout the St John's area and noise to local residents." John Knowles, of Meadow Bank, was the former chairman of the now disbanded Grove Farm Action Group, which opposed previous plans.

He said he would ideally prefer the land to remain as it is, but since that will not happen, he knows what he would like to see on the site.

He said: "If worst came to the worst, my personal preference is for a school - a state-of the art, modern school starting from nursery to primary through to sixth form in a beautiful environment."

City councillor, Margaret Layland, who represented the ward before the boundary changes in 2004, said many residents accepted that development of the site was inevitable.

"On the whole, people are still opposed to the development, but have accepted that it is in the development plan and the site will be for employment use."

City council planning officer, Brian Roberts said: "Letters are still coming in and we have some time to go. We want people's input as to what is going to go there."

Residents have until Friday, July 8, to send their comments to the city council.