WORK on a controversial housing development in Barford should be halted says Warwick and Leamington MP Matt Western.
The 63 homes are being built between Wellesbourne Road and the A429 Barford bypass but the development has been plagued by complaints.
Residents on Bremridge Close say articulated lorries regularly mounting the pavement outside their homes when using the narrow cul-de-sac as an access route contrary to agreement. They also complain the lorries obstruct the road for long periods while they struggle to get to the development site.
When the plans were granted earlier this year, it was with the condition only vehicles with a maximum length of 12 metres could use Bremridge Close to access the site.
Mr Western has now called for a pause in work while concerns are answered.
He said: “A development of this scale at the end of a narrow, winding cul-de-sac is totally inappropriate.
“There are also issues of access for refuse vehicles and pedestrian safety. I am concerned that this development is going ahead without very important pre-conditions being met. In regards to access, there are already concerns about emergency access to the cul-de-sac, and this development would exacerbate those.
“There will only be one access and exit point off the site in future, even for pedestrian access – which has obvious major safety issues.
“There is also no means of accessing the site with construction vehicles other than via Bremridge Close.
“I would urge that the development be put on hold until issues can be addressed.”
Warwick District Council said it was working with developer Taylor Wimpey to resolve the problems.
A spokeswoman said: “This site is allocated in the Local Plan for the district for residential development and this year planning permission was granted for 63 houses.
“The development of the site has not yet started, as a series of archaeological investigations are currently being undertaken.
“The district council’s enforcement team are aware of the reported difficulties experienced in vehicles accessing the site and are in close contact with the developer of the site to ensure that any such concerns are fully addressed.”
