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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Go-ahead for £350m skiing centre | Go-ahead for £350m skiing centre |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A £350m winter sports resort can be built on a disused quarry in Suffolk, the government has announced. | A £350m winter sports resort can be built on a disused quarry in Suffolk, the government has announced. |
| The Department of Communities and Local Government has revealed it has given the huge indoor SnOasis development the go ahead. | The Department of Communities and Local Government has revealed it has given the huge indoor SnOasis development the go ahead. |
| Developer Onslow Suffolk plans to transform the quarry at Great Blakenham into a holiday destination. | Developer Onslow Suffolk plans to transform the quarry at Great Blakenham into a holiday destination. |
| The project was backed by the business sector, but faced opposition from residents and environmental groups. | The project was backed by the business sector, but faced opposition from residents and environmental groups. |
| The Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) said Secretary of State, Hazel Blears, was now "satisfied that the proposal is largely in accordance with the development plan". | The Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) said Secretary of State, Hazel Blears, was now "satisfied that the proposal is largely in accordance with the development plan". |
| This will be the biggest refrigerator in Europe John Williams, SnOasis Community Alliance opposition group Developer's four-year battle | This will be the biggest refrigerator in Europe John Williams, SnOasis Community Alliance opposition group Developer's four-year battle |
| The approval came despite opposition from Natural England, which said insufficient efforts had been made to protect great crested newts on the site. | The approval came despite opposition from Natural England, which said insufficient efforts had been made to protect great crested newts on the site. |
| The DCLG's statement said Mrs Blears "regrets that is has not proved possible for Natural England's objection to be satisfactorily resolved". | The DCLG's statement said Mrs Blears "regrets that is has not proved possible for Natural England's objection to be satisfactorily resolved". |
| The developer said the resort would bring "enormous economic benefits" to the country. | The developer said the resort would bring "enormous economic benefits" to the country. |
| It said SnOasis had been designed to become the country's first centre of excellence for winter sports athletes. | It said SnOasis had been designed to become the country's first centre of excellence for winter sports athletes. |
| Godfrey Spanner, managing director of Onslow Suffolk, said he was thrilled with the decision. | Godfrey Spanner, managing director of Onslow Suffolk, said he was thrilled with the decision. |
| He said: "At last we have final approval, after eight years and costs running into many millions, we can move forward and give our country something unique to be proud of. | |
| "SnOasis will now become a reality bringing with it countless opportunities for jobs, the local and national economies, education, athletes and the winter sports industry." | "SnOasis will now become a reality bringing with it countless opportunities for jobs, the local and national economies, education, athletes and the winter sports industry." |
| Residents 'saddened' | Residents 'saddened' |
| However SnOasis Community Alliance, a group formed to oppose the development, said it was disappointed with the government's decision. | However SnOasis Community Alliance, a group formed to oppose the development, said it was disappointed with the government's decision. |
| John Williams, the group's chairman, said SnOasis would be damaging for the environment and would lead to congestion on Suffolk's roads. | John Williams, the group's chairman, said SnOasis would be damaging for the environment and would lead to congestion on Suffolk's roads. |
| He said: "I'm disappointed in the government - a government that says it is for the environment and is deciding against it. | He said: "I'm disappointed in the government - a government that says it is for the environment and is deciding against it. |
| "This will be the biggest refrigerator in Europe." | "This will be the biggest refrigerator in Europe." |
| He added that residents of Great Blakenham would be "saddened" by the decision. | He added that residents of Great Blakenham would be "saddened" by the decision. |