Proposals to make changes to roads and transportation around the planned New Eastern Villages met a mixed response at a public consultation this afternoon.

Local residents, viewing the proposals from Swindon Borough Council for the first time, were torn on whether they appropriately addressed current and future traffic problems in the area.

One local resident, John Bridgeman, 73, was sceptical about whether the plans would solve existing transport concerns, without taking into account the new houses.

He said: “I don’t think these plans address the traffic whatsoever. It just complicates things. I think the Great Stall Bridge will be a great white elephant.

“The time has come now when the whole of Swindon’s traffic has reached saturation point. This is before they start building the new houses – this is now.”

Malcolm Bates, 69, who also lives near to the proposed development, expressed wider concerns which he believed needed addressing, before planners start focussing on road layout.

He said: “I think, with all this development going on, how long ago was the hospital built? And it can’t cope now.

“Once the people in these new houses, who are generally younger, get to my sort of age, there are going to be bigger problems.”

Alan Fryer, 68, from Covingham, was more positive about the proposals, while measured in his enthusiasm for the new development.

He said: “Everything I’ve seen about changes to the roads, I like.

“As for the housing development: you lose countryside and you gain housing – it’s always a pity to lose countryside.

“The route of the canal is being safeguarded, which is good.”

The proposals included several measures to tackle traffic on the A420.

Among them are plans to improve the White Hart Junction, which connects the A420 and A410. The project, estimated to cost £29m, would increase the capacity of the junction, improve the traffic management, and add enhanced cycling and pedestrian facilities.

A new link across the A419, known as the Great Stall Bridge, would also aim to ease traffic at the junction.

Estimated at £15.1m, the road would connect the New Eastern Villages with the existing communities in Stratton and Covingham.

Proposals to build a new road, known as the Southern Connector Road, directly linking the New Eastern Villages with the Commonhead roundabout, are also designed to alleviate traffic.

Several other measures to improve the A420 were also among the proposals at the consultation.

The New Eastern Villages plan comprises 8,000 proposed homes, a secondary school and primary schools on land around the A420, to be built by 2026.