A VILLAGE at the centre of several major developments is being ‘strangled’, a community leader has claimed.

Ward councillor Dave McFarlane says Broughton is struggling to cope. He said: “The village is effectively being strangled by development with no consideration given to the infrastructure of the village.

“To take the impact of each development in the singular may meet requirements and tick all the boxes, but all these developments together add considerable burden to the village.”

Massive developments planned for the town include the controversial Warren Hall Business Park. The proposed 193-acre business park includes plans for a 120-bed hotel and is expected to create up to 7,000 jobs.

Construction work on the A55 Warren Hall Interchange, which will pave the way for the business park is already under way.

Residents living close to the A55 in Thornhill Close said the roadworks have made their lives hell and turned their once quite cul-de-sac into a building site.

Two major housing developments close to Broughton Retail Park are also in the pipeline.

Cllr McFarlane added: “Broughton is a flagship area for North Wales and Flintshire in particular.

“The county of Flintshire does its utmost to accommodate and realise the potential for the growing business community aiming at Broughton.

“What is not good news is the impact this is having on the village and the people of Broughton, people who have been overlooked and minimally considered in any consultations.”

Fears are now growing the new developments could lead to hundreds of extra cars and lorries passing through the village daily.

Cllr McFarlane said: “A possible 6-7,000 people may be employed at the Warren Hall Business Park when it is at its peak. If only five per cent of these people make a journey to the retail park or into Saltney that is 300-350 people per day impacting on the village.”

Residents have been calling for an interchange onto the A55 at Broughton Retail Park to alleviate traffic from the village, but to no avail.

Cllr McFarlane added: “Residents have accepted and accommodated the council and developers but there is all the pain and none of the gain for these people.

“Flintshire County Council, the Welsh Assembly Government, retail providers and developers now need to treat Broughton residents with the same respect they have been afforded.”

A spokesman for Flintshire Council said: “All applications have been adequately publicised and we have carefully considered all representations received.”