On Tuesday evening, hundreds of people attended a public meeting at the Carnegie Room, where council members responded to questions.

The meeting was organised by the Thetford Society in response to letters in the press from residents and council leader William Nunn.

The lack of public facilities, planning, development and travellers' sites were some of the topics addressed at the meeting, which many residents left feeling frustrated, having not got the answers they wanted.

Residents also said they felt cheated by Thetford's Growth Point Status, where £6 million is available for expansion over the next three years, as they believed the town's development was being put on hold to fit in with future plans.

Trevor Holden, Breckland Council chief executive, said: "Growth Point Status is great for Thetford but we don't want to re-Tarmac areas, carry out refurbishment work or build new public facilities only to have them ripped up again, as part of Growth Point development."

Mr Nunn tried to reassure residents that Thetford was at the top of Breckland Council's agenda.

Canon Bob Baker, team rector for the Thetford Team Ministry, said: "The chief executive has answered the difficult questions when the elected council leader should be answering his own questions.

"It's about delivery, not communication, and it's clear Breckland Council doesn't know what's best for Thetford."

Resident Derek Crossman, of St John's Way, said: "I don't think people have got the answers they came here for."

Sharon Street, 34, of the Cloverfields estate, said: "There is nothing in the town that we want, especially for children, and our requests are never listened to."

After the meeting, Mr Nunn said: "I want to reassure the public that Breckland is highly committed to Thetford's future."

A similar meeting is planned to take place in six months' time.

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