VILLAGERS have hit out at plans to build a new road as part of a 1,500 home development, fearing it will cause more traffic and congestion.

A planning application has been submitted to build it as part of the Crab Hill housing development in Wantage.

If approved, it would see a number of roads, cycleways and allotments built to the east of the A3388 and north of A417 as part of the major project comprising 1,500 new homes, a new primary school and neighbourhood centre and a park.

Now, a number of villagers from Rowstock have written opposing the plan, citing concerns about a lack of planning to alleviate traffic congestion.

Rebecca Williams, of Newbury Road, wrote: "I strongly oppose the application for the Grove Loop Road at Crab Hill.

“This will funnel even more traffic via the already-congested Rowstock roundabout as it will become the preferred route for traffic wishing to join the A34 rather than going to other junctions north or south of the Milton and Chilton interchanges.

“As there are no definite plans to alleviate traffic congestion at Rowstock, alternative plans need to be in place to ensure traffic passing through Rowstock is minimised before the Grove Loop Road is approved.”

Carole Hooper, of Milton Hill in Steventon, objected to the plans on behalf of the Residents’ Association of Rowstock.

Ms Hooper criticised the plans for not including provisions for easing traffic in the village when the loop road is built.

In the highways design statement, the developer has outlined its plans for secondary streets, which include the Grove Loop Road North and Grove Loop Road South, which will serve future residential blocks.

It states: “The secondary streets have been designed in accordance with Oxfordshire County Council’s residential road design gGuide for minor access roads’ and will be 20mph zones with traffic-calming features.

"Lighting has been designed for both Secondary Streets as per OCC’s design brief.”

As well as providing traffic-calming measures the developer highlights it will provide cycle infrastructure and widen highways around bends to to ensure safe passing of vehicles.

A decision is set to be made by December 9 and the application is currently in the consultation period.