PROPOSALS to widen Oxford Road as part of plans to meet increased traffic generated by the New Eastern Villages development will lead to increased pollution levels campaigners fear.

Stratton Residents Against Road Changes claims the move to enlarge Oxford Road and create two lanes in both directions at its junction with Nythe Road is likely to cause a bottleneck.

Ron Fox, who lives in Oxford Road is secretary of the organisation. He said: "We note the plans say that part of the road is to be dualled to increase capacity, yet the dual carriageway then becomes one lane.

“Anybody who has been subject to a lane closure on the motorway will know that this causes a bottleneck, and slow-moving, queuing traffic.

"This will subject many residents to increased pollution from idling engines.

“Even now, without the encumbrance of an additional lane, it is difficult for residents to get out of their drives on to Oxford Road.

“How much more difficult will it be when there are two lanes of moving traffic to negotiate?

"There are two members of the committee who live on Oxford Road and are aware that on occasions their houses vibrate due to the weight of passing HGVs. This vibration can only be increased when there are two lanes in each direction.

He said: "We do not believe that the cost of these changes, estimated at £1.7 million justifies any likely benefits, and will be immensely detrimental to the lives of those people who live on Oxford Road.”

A Swindon Borough Council spokesman said: “In its current form, the Oxford Road -Nythe Road junction does not have the capacity to cope with the anticipated increase in traffic which will result from the development of the New Eastern Villages.

"These improvements, therefore, are vital for ensuring that additional capacity is created.

“Increasing the numbers of lanes at the junction will allow more vehicles to move through it with greater ease, and sophisticated transport modelling has shown that this will provide the necessary capacity without bottlenecks being created.”

A public consultation exhibition was staged last week showing proposals for all the major infrastructure improvements ahead of the building of 8,000 new homes on the eastern edge of the borough.

Included in the plans are the increasing of capacity and signalling on the White Hart roundabout.

Mr Fox said: “We believe that the proposed layout of the White Hart roundabout is sensible and, provided the signage for the lane decision by drivers is in place in good time, should help current traffic to negotiate this busy junction.

“It remains to be seen in future years how additional traffic can be managed.

"We note that the Great Stall Bridge, which, if opened to all traffic, would facilitate traffic flow, has been postponed, perhaps indefinitely.”

Starting in autumn with work on the White Hart Roundabout - the entirety of the enabling works for the New Eastern Village will cost £72 million.

As well as work on the roundabout and the Oxford Road - Nythe Road junction, work will take place on improving the Gablecross roundabout on the A420.

The Piccadilly roundabout in Covingham near the Messenger pub will also have its capacity increased.

An entirely new road, the southern connector road will be constructed, running for 1.5 miles from the centre of the sites of the new villages around South Marston to the Commonhead roundabout on the A419 giving access to the M4.