A long-serving Thetford councillor yesterday made a plea for the mistakes of the past to be avoided as the town prepares for another massive expansion.

A long-serving Thetford councillor yesterday made a plea for the mistakes of the past to be avoided as the town prepares for another massive expansion.

About 6,000 homes are planned and 5,000 jobs should be created in the coming years after Thetford was granted growth-point status.

It is seen as a great opportunity to ensure prosperity for the future in the town.

Terry Lamb told a Breckland full council meeting that the major developments in Thetford in previous years “had not been done very well” as adequate provision for services had not been made.

He said planning permission should not be given for houses until issues such as new schools and health services were resolved.

“I hope this is treated very, very seriously in the next phase of growth for Thetford.”

Breckland leader William Nunn said the Moving Thetford Forward board included key players from bodies including education and highways and the health trust who would be able to create a “coherent plan”.

Mr Lamb specifically asked for priority to be given to improvements at the railway station.

He said land around the station had been built on, which limited scope for extra parking.

“It is very, very important that the station be given top priority because it is more and more used as a route between Norwich and Cambridge and to London.”