CONTROVERSIAL proposals to change Dunchurch’s traffic system have been criticised by Warwickshire County Council.
The council has objected to David Wilson Homes and Barratt Homes’ planning application, submitted to Rugby Borough Council, to build 860 houses on land between the Rokeby estate and Ashlawn Road.
Highway chiefs have objected to the developers’ plans to reorganise traffic flow at the Dun Cow crossroads, and recommended a re-think.
County council development officer Ben Simm said: “The mitigation proposed for this junction could exacerbate existing issues on the highway network and impact on the safe and efficient operation of the junction – as well has having a detrimental impact upon Dunchurch.”
He added the plans were ‘overly engineered’ and had the potential to generate more congestion, reduce available parking in the village and raise the possibility of pedestrians being hit by cars while crossing the junction.
He also disagreed with developers’ claims the planned estate’s new primary school would not generate many more car journeys.
Under the plans, vehicles would no longer be able to go directly across the existing crossroads between Rugby Road and Southam Road, instead having to navigate a miniature gyratory system.
Over 250 people crowded into Dunchurch Village Hall to discuss the plans on Friday (November 21).
Richard Dickson, the prospective LibDem parliamentary candidate for Kenilworth and Southam, said: “The huge number of people here shows the level of concern about the proposals and in particular the re-routing of traffic through the historic village.”
Chairman of Dunchurch Parish Council Peter Eccleson said: “There was a clear consensus that the plan will not only destroy the beauty of the village centre but it will also make traffic and parking problems worse.”
Ann Wright of Daventry Road said: “The proposal will cut the centre of our community out of the village. We need to keep the heart of the village. Historic properties in the centre of the village are under threat.”
Richard Edwards, Regional Strategic Manager for David Wilson Homes, said: “We received the local Highways Authority’s initial comments on the Transport Assessment, which was submitted as part of the application, less than a week ago, and we intend to respond in due course.”
No decision date for the application has been set, although borough and county councillor Peter Butlin said it would almost certainly be 12 months before a decision could be taken.
