A major public consultation started this week to ensure the public gets a say on proposals to build a £200m gas-fired power station at Eye Airfield.

Energy distribution giant Progress Power on Wednesday sent leaflets to 19,000 homes and business in Eye, Diss and the surrounding area in advance of five public meetings

Local people and businesses in Eye, Diss and in villages in the vicinity of Eye Airfield are being asked their views on Progress Power’s plans.

If it gets the go-ahead the gas-fired power station would be big enough to generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of 400,000 homes and create up to 250 jobs in the two-three year construction period, as well as 15 permanents skilled jobs.

Progress Power is keen that the public gets to know everything about its proposals by attending the public meetings.

The consultation exhibitions will be held at: Hoxne Village Hall, St Edmund’s Hall, Friday, October 11, 2.30-6.30pm; Mellis Memorial Village Hall, Saturday, October 12, 9am to 1pm; The Park Hotel, Diss , Monday, October 14, 4pm to 9pm; Cornwallis Hotel, Rectory Road, Brome, Tuesday, October 15, 3pm to 8pm; Eye Community Centre,Friday, October 18, 12pm to 5.30pm and Eye Community Centre, Saturday, October 19, 9am to 1pm.

The project, was first announced in May. As a result of local feedback and engagement with Mid Suffolk District Council, Suffolk County Council and statutory bodies such as the Environmental Agency and English Heritage over the past six months, as well as various technical and environmental assessments, there have been a number of significant changes to the proposed project.

Progress Power has chosen to underground the station’s electrical connection to the National Grid to avoid the need of overhead pylons. It has also chosen to reduce the power station’s chimney stack heights from 90 metres to no more than 30 metres. The gas pipeline connecting the power station to the national gas transmission system will be underground. The plant would run for no more than 1500 hours a year.