Plans for 400 new homes on a greenfield site have led to protests from people living nearby over designs for what they say is a large and "unsafe" road junction to the development.

Housing developer David Wilson Homes has submitted a panning application for 400 new homes at Monks Fram, Grove, near Wantage.

The plans would also see an extension to Grove Primary School, new playing fields, two car parks and an artificial pitch created.

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The proposal follows an additional planning application at Monks Farm for 83 homes in December 2021, which included designs for a large junction at The Maples, off Denchworth Road.

Although householders in Grove joined councillors in welcoming plans to expand the primary school, the increasing growth of Grove and the proposed junction at The Maples have proved controversial, with some people fearing their lives will be "at risk".

Oxford Mail:

District councillor Jenny Hannaby and county councillor Jane Hanna have held meetings with residents at The Maples who are concerned about having the large junction close to the entrance to their homes.

The junction would create a crossroad towards Denchworth Road with a road accessing the new housing development.

Gary Harris of Churchward Close in Grove, objected to the plans on the Vale of White Horse District Council website.

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He said: "This road already sees far too much fast traffic and with the proposed traffic from the 400 new houses this will make for a very dangerous road and junction. There are many families with young children walking along this road to access the cow lane footpath and the new layout and increase traffic is a fatal accident waiting to happen if it goes ahead."

Oxford Mail:

Rachel Stuart lives at The Maples and also opposes the junction plans. She said: "I find the new layout very dangerous, and we won't be able to see to pull out. Our lives will be at risk every time we leave our house."

District councillor for Grove North, Ben Mabbett, said: "At the moment what the developers have suggested the county council has said is absolutely fine. But we hope the developer will listen to what the residents are saying and amend their plans."

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Although like many residents, Mr Mabbett is not happy with the increasing size of Grove, but acknowledged that the new infrastructure projects, including funding for schools and transport, would not be happening without the new housing developments.

He said: "As someone who grew up here, the doubling of the size of Grove concerns me."

He added: "The health centre expansion is only happening because we have more houses being built, and the link road that is going around Wantage is only happening because of the housing that is being built. Big pieces of infrastructure are difficult, and they take time, but hopefully in the long run they will be a benefit."

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