NEIGHBOURS have launched a last-ditch effort to stop plans for a large new housing estate in Havant.
Residents are worried about traffic chaos coming to Warblington and Denvilles if Havant Borough Council approves plans for 191 homes.
Paul Searley, 52, of Fifth Avenue, is calling for a rethink.
It comes as council officers have recommended councillors vote on Thursday to approve the plans for 22 acres of former agricultural land at Manor Farm and Copsey’s Nursery.
Mr Searley moved to the area 12 years ago after having to endure years of construction traffic outside his home in Southampton Road as Tesco was being built at Northarbour, Portsmouth.
He said: ‘I now find myself in the same situation again at Fifth Avenue – a once beautiful tree-lined avenue – where it is deemed that all construction, materials, waste soil, infill and contractors traffic for up to four years will utilise without a thought to the existing residents’ lives.’
He said the council had a ‘duty of care’ to residents.
A total of 101 written objections have been received by the council, with one letter of support.
A major concern is extra congestion along Southleigh Road, where long queues of cars already build up whenever the level crossing gates are down.
However, a traffic report submitted to the council estimates only an extra four vehicles queuing at the crossing during peak hours – despite the new estate having space to accommodate 391 cars.
Developer David Wilson Homes have said it wants to create a ‘brand new community’ in Denvilles, with a farm shop and 32 allotments.
More than £700,000 would be handed to the local authorities for transport improvements, including building a pedestrian footbridge over the level crossing.
A council report states that construction traffic would only be allowed from 8am to 6pm from Monday to Saturday and developers must agree ‘not to prejudice highway safety nor cause inconvenience to other highway users or result in any other significant harm to the amenity of local residents’.
A council report adds: ‘There is considered to be no justification for refusal.’
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