CONCERNED residents have written to the council amid fears a 2,000-home, shops and school scheme will cause traffic chaos.

Redrow’s plans for the homes development at Sutton New Hall Farm, Ledsham Road, Little Sutton – to be called Brooklands – include the conversion and reuse of the farmhouse and barn, up to 400sq m of retail floor space for a local shop, a new primary school, a community building, a new park, playing fields and other public open space and allotments.

Redrow insist new accesses, streets and other related infrastructure will ease the pressure created by the influx of people to the area.

But residents are not convinced.

Helen Cook, of Thorn Drive, wrote: “Each home is likely to have on average two cars.

“The junction of Ledsham Road on to the Welsh Road is a particularly hazardous one already.

“The junction of Ledsham Road and the A41 is already backed up at peak times resulting in cars cutting through Wetherby Way. Many houses on Wetherby Way do not have driveways and so there are cars constantly parked on Wetherby Way, restricting it to one lane.

“I fear the subsequent increase in traffic associated with 2,000 plus houses and buildings would significantly increase road accidents/hazards at the junction of Ledsham Road and the Welsh Road.”

John McLannahan, of Jedburgh Avenue, Little Sutton, added: “There are several ‘brownfield’ sites nearby which are already serviced and which would satisfy any short to medium term requirement.

“The proposed site represents a large chunk of open countryside, arguably greenfield and this status needs to be retained, moreover protected.

“Any concession would represent a precedent and would lead to development by default.

“Traffic, noise and general disruption is neither needed or necessary in the locality.”

Cheshire Wildlife Trust added its own objection, on the grounds it would be unsustainable development and harm wildlife.

They argued: “The proposed development would result in unsustainable development because the release of a greenfield site (as defined in the National Planning Policy Framework) would undermine the need to make effective use of previously developed land in the urban area of Ellesmere Port.”

It also expressed concern for barn owls living locally who used the farm buildings – to be converted into housing – as a nest site.

The presence of toads, skylarks, bats and great crested newts was also cited as a cause for concern.