TRAFFIC chaos and flooding fears are among the objections to plans for 80 new homes on a busy main road with hundreds of other new homes already proposed for development.

Highworth councillors have lodged a strong objection to the latest application for more housing on Shrivenham Road, this time from Custom Land Limited, and they have recommended the borough council refuses it.

They argued the town’s infrastructure would not cope with the dozens of extra households on a green space across the road from a proposed 250-property Gladman development.

A final decision has not yet been made for either scheme.

The 80 homes would fit between the Wrag View development and Wrag Barn golf course. In July, Hares put in an outline application to build 45 houses on land behind Wrag View.

Highworth councillors suggested a new two-form entry primary school would be required to accommodate the influx of new residents, the footpaths were too narrow for pupils that would attend the existing Highworth Warneford School and Southfield Junior School, and that there was no safe crossing on the road.

Thames Water identified an inability to deal with the development’s drainage and water needs and is investigating further.

The local flood authority reported the town’s sewage network is already under pressure and that upgrades are needed for the water supply and waste water pipes which Thames Water is dealing with.

Highways England has concerns about traffic capacity problems that the Custom Land and Gladman applications may cause.

It has requested a six-month holding objection on the 80-home proposal in order to examine the Cold Harbour junction and Honda roundabout.

Councillors asked to have Shrivenham Road and the Fox roundabout added to the traffic study. Highworth mayor Richard Williams said congestion would add pollution.

The site is not earmarked for development in either the neighbourhood or local plans, is outside the town’s settlement boundary and, councillors suggested, not in-keeping with the idea of Highworth being a hilltop town. Nearby villages connected via Shrivenham Road have voiced concerns about traffic and an archaeology group has objected.