Roads first, homes later (From Witney Gazette)

Roads first, homes later

9:00am Wednesday 25th October 2006 in Witney By Ruth Keeling

THERE should be no more major housing developments until the the roads have been improved, according to councillors.

Witney Town Council's planning committee have made the comments in response to an application from Persimmon Homes and David Wilson Homes to build 160 homes on the site of the former Woolhouse, situated between Dark Lane and Puck Lane.

More than a dozen residents have also written to West Oxfordshire District Council, while the developers have defended their design.

Witney town councillor Steve Holborough, a member of the planning committee, said: "The road infrastructure has reached breaking point, and there just isn't the capacity to take more traffic created by new housing developments.

"We need things like the Cogges Link Road, the West End Link, and a junctions to connect the A40 with West Witney.

"There are also parking issues with the development, and traffic will be piling out of there into what is already a congested area.

"The road infrastructure has reached breaking point, and there just isn't the capacity to take more traffic created by new housing developments."

Witney town councillor Steve Holborough

"We do need affordable houses, but only when we know the roads can take the extra traffic."

District councillor Warwick Robinson, chairman of the lowlands planning committee, said the comments would be taken into account. But he said Oxfordshire County Council were the key advisors on highways. He said: "The greatest weight as regards the suitability of the road network is given to them."

The county council has made some comments about specific problems - including parking provision and the width of the main access road.

Neighbours in Dark Lane, Puck Lane, and Mill Street have been dismayed by the plans.

Sue Hewer, of Queen Emma's Dyke, was one of 14 people who wrote to the district council.

She said homes in Dark Lane would be overlooked. She added: "Given that each of those houses will have at least one car, traffic will be a nightmare."

Andrew Duncan, of Gloucester Place, Witney, complained about the loss of many mature trees, and the possible loss of a family of tawny owls.

He said: "I think the developers are being too greedy with the number of housing developments they want to put in."

Philip Neale, Persimmon's land director, said they were not aware of objections about highways, and said access would be from Woodford Way, only recently built by the county council.

He added: "With regard to the density of the site and retention of greenery, we have followed the original design brief very closely and held considerable negotiations with the case planning officer to ensure our application meets local requirements."

A spokesman for David Wilson Homes said the density or parking allocation matched those recommended by the council and the Government.

A tree survey had identified all the healthy trees in good form, which would be kept, he said, as well as new trees planted as part of a landscaped open space area.

* The district council's lowlands planning committee hope to make a decision at their next meeting, on November 20. They will also decide on plans to build shops and 14 flats at 5 Welch Way, currently home to Merlins.