Housing development in St Neots could cause major congestion

PLANS to build 2,800 homes to the east of St Neots should be refused to prevent major congestion around the town, say councillors.

St Neots Town Councillors met agents for the proposed Wintringham Park development last Thursday and suggested the current scheme had “no clear plan for the delivery of infrastructure needed to support the development”.

The council’s concerns were dominated by traffic problems it said would result unless significant improvements were made to the A428, which runs alongside the site.

Outline plans for the development, which also includes two primary schools and a business park, were submitted by agents Bidwells in February.

The firm said it still expected the plans to be approved by the end of the summer.

The Mayor of St Neots, Councillor Barry Chapman,who chaired the meeting, told The Hunts Post the proposed plan would cause major hold-ups on Cambridge Road and the A428.

Cllr Chapman said the roads in and around the town would not be able to cope with the extra traffic generated by the homes.

He said: “There are concerns about the A428 and the proposals to put a couple of roundabouts on there. There are already hold-ups on the roundabouts that are there now. The town only has one town centre bridge while the bridge at Little Paxton, which floods, would see even more traffic.”

Figures released by the Highways Agency estimate there would be more than 1,500 vehicles an hour moving in or out of the finished site during peak times.

Bidwells had proposed changes to the roads