RESIDENTS raised concerns about extra traffic at a consultation meeting on proposals to build 700 new homes east of Carterton.

The proposed development, known as Carterton East, includes a primary school, shops, community and leisure facilities and an extension to the Kilkenny Lane Country Park.

As well as the 700 homes, of which 40 per cent would be classed as affordable housing, the plan by Bloor Homes for land owned by Christ Church, Oxford, includes allotments, playing fields and a new road to link the B4477 with the Witney and Curbridge road.

The developer says there is also potential to provide a hotel, nursery and community centre and that the project will bring in an extra £5m a year to the local economy.

But residents from the town and neighbouring Brize Norton said extra traffic was a key concern during the meeting at St John’s Church Hall in Carterton on Friday.

Irene Frost, from Carterton, said: “The increase in traffic will be a problem. It’s already at a standstill at 8.30am. It’s madness and to add to it would be a nightmare.

“I also don’t think it will bring more jobs to Carterton, as they will also just go somewhere else.”

Wendy Morgan, of Butlers Drive, Carterton, said: “The A40 will get even worse. Heaven knows what another 700 homes will do to it.”

Lesley Goble, of Station Road, Brize Norton, said: “The cars from the planned development will go on to the A40, which is already gridlocked.”

Helen Beckingham, of Manor Road, Brize Norton, said: “It’s not a question of it being in our backyard, it’s a question of it being a very stupid plan.”

But other residents supported the scheme.

Office manager Julie Edgington, of Rock Close, Carterton, said: “I think more houses will bring more people into the centre of Carterton.”

Christine Green, a teaching assistant from Brize Norton Road, Carterton, said: “I think it’s a better site than if it were west of the town. I think the traffic would be even worse if it was to be built in the west, as that links more to the A40.”

When asked about concerns over traffic issues, a spokesman for Bloor Homes said the company had offered “significant contributions”, which would see three S2 buses between Carterton, Witney and Oxford run every hour, rather than two, while the link road would keep A40 traffic away from Carterton and Brize Norton.

And land would be offered on a 150-year-lease to Brize Norton Parish Council to create a “buffer” between Car-terton and Brize Norton.

A website to allow people to comment online has been set up at cartertoneast.com, with consultation running until Thursday, December 12.