THE New Eastern Villages development will bring traffic chaos to Stratton, residents claim.

A new campaign group has been set up by volunteers in a bid to oppose the council’s plans for road alterations, which will help accommodate the 8,000-home New Eastern Villages scheme.

And now members of Stratton Against Road Changes are appealing for support ahead of their inaugural meeting later this month.

Ron Fox, 69, who has lived in the area for 15 months, is the secretary of StARC.

He said: “The group was set up in light of the proposals for the New Eastern Villages development and the likely impact of extra vehicles, particularly around the Lower Stratton area.

“The council’s proposals are not set in stone yet, but they don’t seem to make much sense to us.”

StARC’s concerns are centred around plans for the White Hard roundabout and the potential impact they may have on the traffic flow in Stratton.

The proposals – intrinsically linked to the New Eastern Villages development – are still in their infancy, but Ron is worried about the suggestion that the dual carriageway section of Merlin Way is to be closed.

He said: “The Merlin Way closure will mean traffic is dispersed all over the place.

‘We think that all it will do is increase the amount of traffic in Lower Stratton and across the parish.

“We hope we can persuade the council not to do what they are indicating they might do.”

Other plans for the White Hart roundabout that residents fear will have a detrimental effect on the parish include the creation of a north-bound slip road onto the A419 and the closure of roundabout access from Ermin Street.

But members of StARC are particularly worried about the impact that the extra housing in the development will have on the parish.

Ron said: “The whole of the Lower Stratton area could be affected and when all these houses are built.

‘There will be a lot of vehicle movement and we are all very worried.”

In response, councillor Toby Elliott, Swindon Borough Council’s cabinet member for strategic planning and sustainability, said: “We are a pro-growth town, but I know that you need sufficient infrastructure in place to support new houses. And it needs to be there before building commences, where possible.

“There has been a lot of incorrect information swirling around the community in the last few months.

‘I would urge residents and campaign groups to come to our pop-in event on Tuesday, January 23 in Coleview or check out our website for correct information about our plans for new infrastructure.”

StARC’s first public meeting will be held at Grange Leisure at 2pm on Sunday, January 21.