An application for a further 700 homes in south Banbury has been met with opposition from local Councillors. Longford Park II will see the development of land north of Banbury Rugby Club and Bannatynes Gym and east of the existing Longford Park site.
Local County Councillors Eddie Reeves (Banbury Calthorpe), Arash Fatemian (Deddington) and Kieron Mallon (Bloxham and Easington) have objected to the proposals on several grounds:
• Connectivity with the existing Longford Park junction on the A4260 and increased traffic circulation.
• Congestion: the access for Longford Park II is down an already crowded residential road on Longford Park I (Hobby Road). The opening of the development’s primary school at the end of this road will further add to the pressure on this single highway/junction.
• The safety of pedestrians and car users, especially after the opening of the primary school, will be compromised due to the high volume of residential, school and construction traffic all accessing the existing estate and the new development via the same route.
• The increase in housing density from 600 to 700 homes which is a departure from the approved Local Plan.
• With a significant increase in traffic levels, the adverse effects on air quality for Hobby Road residents should be considered.
Many current Longford Park residents have objected to the application for similar reasons.
In a joint statement, Councillors Reeves, Fatemian and Mallon said: “As the County Councillors representing south Banbury/Bodicote and the main A4260 Oxford Road, we have no objection in principle to the residential development in question as it already features in Cherwell District Council’s local plan.
However, we feel that to ensure the safety of both new and existing residents, and to improve traffic circulation across south Banbury, Longford Park II should have its own access point for entry and exit and not be reliant on an already densely-populated residential road. We urge that the application in its current form is refused and that the developers work with the statutory highways authority to find a suitable solution beneficial for all Longford Park residents.”
