HUNDREDS of residents have opposed plans for a new housing development in a Flintshire village.

The Leader reported recently how a planning application received by Flintshire Council sought permission to build 97 homes on land to the south of New Brighton Road, New Brighton.

Yesterday, representatives of the New Brighton Residents Steering Committee handed almost 300 individual objection letters and a report detailing almost 120 objections to the scheme at county hall in Mold.

Some of the main areas of concern for the committee are the overdevelopment of the village, road safety, drainage, potential impact on wildlife, a lack of safe cycleways and pathways and site disruption.

In their objections, the residents say that a housing land study carried out in 2014 showed the number of homes in New Brighton to be 328.

Taking into consideration planning permissions granted for other housing schemes since then, should the 97 homes be approved they say this would mean an increase in homes of 40 per cent since 2014 in a village which has lost facilities including post office, store and ATM machine.

Where road safety is concerned, the committee members state they believe the development would create “a serious road safety hazard” on New Brighton Road as it would “give 97 families direct access on to this dangerous road which has no footpath between Sychdyn and New Brighton.”

The matter is made more concerning, they say, due to their observation that “vehicles regularly exceed the 30 miles per hour speed limit and it is used by heavy vehicles”.

Keith Playdon, representing the New Brighton Residents Steering Committee, told the Leader: “We have almost 300 individual objection letters from residents throughout New Brighton and surrounding areas, which demonstrates the sense of feeling and opposition to the proposed development.

“We are also submitting a detailed file, prepared by the steering committee, of material planning objections comprised of 63 pages with 119 objections.

“To build 97 houses would be a massive overdevelopment. It would be a 40 per cent increase in the village since 2014, a village which has limited facilities.

“97 families would have direct access to New Brighton Road – a road with no footpath, which has failed the ‘safe routes to school assessment’ and Flintshire County Council have said ‘it cannot be considered a suitable walking route’. Traffic surveys show 50 per cent of cars exceed the 30 miles per hour speed limit.

“There is a history of surface water on the proposed site yet to date we have not seen any detailed drainage plans.

“This must be resolved before any planning application is considered.

The applicant, Stewart Milne Homes, has previously said there are no transport related reasons to withhold planning permission.

A spokesman said: “The site will be accessed from a new priority junction off New Brighton Road which will have sufficient visibility splays either side of the proposed access point.

“A secondary vehicular access to the development will be provided further west along New Brighton Road which will serve only five dwellings.

“The change in speed limit will be relocated approximately 30 metres to the north-west along New Brighton Road in order to accommodate visibility from the proposed secondary access.

“A village gateway and traffic calming features will be provided, including dragon teeth and hi-vis signage.”

Flintshire Council was approached for comment regarding road safety at New Brighton Road.