RESIDENTS are worried a change to construction plans on a major development in the north of the town will lead to more accidents close to homes.

The Oakhurst Residents’ Association has said it fears the construction of a new primary school at Tadpole Farm will lead to lorries using Oakhurst Way as an access route to the site.

But councillors have said all construction traffic will have to go down Tadpole Lane and Lady Lane to reach the building site.

Permission has been granted for 1,700 homes to be built along with a school.

Because of the shortage of primary school places, the council requested the school be built before the houses so it can open next September.

An access road leading to the site from Ermin Street is due to be built but this will not be completed in time to be used for the school’s construction.

So a request by developers has been put forward to allow traffic for the site to use Tadpole Lane and Lady Lane for this period until the access road opens, with a reduction in the speed limit from 50mph to 30mph.

The residents’ association is worried that these roads are not suitable for heavy lorries and will use Oakhurst Way instead.

Paul Exell, 47, chairman of the residents’ association, said: “The original planning application said that construction traffic should not use Tadpole Lane or Lady Lane for Health and Safety Reasons.

“Since this application to alter it for the school to be built, we have had dozens of emails from people who are very worried.

“That road is simply not suitable for construction traffic so it will naturally start to use Oakhurst Way, which is too narrow and could be very dangerous.

“The council say traffic will not use Oakhurst Way but it appears they are just relying on the goodwill of the drivers.

“We want to either put a barrier to prevent lorries from passing or put a weight restriction along Oakhurst Way.”

Coun Toby Elliott (Con, Priory Vale) said that if construction traffic does start using Oakhurst Way then he will take action.

He said: “If trucks did start using Oakhurst Way then of course I would object and make sure something was done.

“It is a residential road so should not be used.

“The need for primary school places is vital so the council have had the foresight to bring this forward.”