A CONTROVERSIAL new housing estate off Ashlawn Road could be in doubt after the highways authority agreed with protestors that it could clog up local roads.
A planning application for up to 860 houses submitted by David Wilson Homes and Gallagher Estates includes proposals to increase lanes of traffic through Dunchurch crossroads, which they say will address concerns that the village will become gridlocked with traffic.
But Warwickshire County Council (WCC) has maintained its objection to the scheme, which they say will make matters worse.
A letter from WCC to Rugby Borough Council said the proposed changes would “lead to an exacerbation of existing conditions, which will be detrimental to the safe and efficient operation of the highway network in the future scenario with the inclusion of the development traffic.”
The letter concludes: “The development cannot come forward without a significant upgrade in highway infrastructure which provides an alternative route which avoids the Dunchurch crossroads.”
Dunchurch independent borough councillor and Stop Ashlawn Road Development (SARD) member Howard Roberts welcomed WCC’s objection.
He said: “I am relieved that the highways officer has listened to our concerns and deemed the application would make the situation in Dunchurch intolerable. It stands to reason our ancient village cannot act as a major route for hundreds of extra cars.
“We must still continue to make the case against this massive development. In addition to concerns about roads, we must also continue to raise objections on pollution, schooling and general infrastructure grounds.”
“When it comes to fighting inappropriate development we must always be mindful that while battles can be won, the war is rarely over. It is vital that we make a more general point that development on this scale are wholly inappropriate in such locations.”
SARD press officer Sara Herrington said: “Dunchurch has the worst air quality anywhere in the borough of Rugby and the proposal to build 900 more houses off Ashlawn Road will inevitably add to congestion and air pollution at the cross roads.
“The developers even agree that the Dun Cow junction in Dunchurch will seize up – or, as they put it, will ‘not operate within normally accepted limits of performance’ – and that some roads will face a 59 per cent increase in traffic.
“Apart from some extra traffic lights and a new 40mph speed limit on Ashlawn Road, the developers are proposing nothing that would solve the problems they intend to create.”
She added that people would struggle to find a GP or dentist, with no new health clinics proposed for the development.
