RESIDENTS have labelled a developer’s bid to open an access road which was meant to be just for buses, cyclists and walkers “a betrayal of trust”.

Mersea Homes wants to allow 160 homes in its Chesterwell development to access their properties via Bartholomew Court.

The original plans for the new estate, which will eventually be made up of 1,600 houses, would have seen a bus gate nearby just off Mile End Road, meaning private vehicles would have to access the estate from the north.

Will Bramhill, founding member of Colchester Cycling Campaign, said: “I am horrified this plan is up for consideration. Many residents declined to object to Chesterwell because Mile End Road would not suffer any traffic in car traffic.

“Colchester Council officers were commended for the imagination used in the original scheme.

“This proposal is a betrayal of trust by Mersea Homes, and one made purely with short-term profit in mind.”

Mr Bramhill said opening up the route even to a small proportion of homes in Chesterwell would add more than 1,100 car journeys each day to Mile End Road.

“Congestion and pollution will endanger the health of people living in the ‘fume canyon’ section of the road south of Rectory Close, especially at peak times,” he said.

“Making access by car easier will encourage more car trips while the original proposal would cause people to give more consideration to how they make a particular trip.”

Mersea Homes claims moving the proposed bus gate would have a positive impact on the area by spreading the number of traffic trips between two entrance points.

A planning statement reads: “The overall number of trips generated by the scheme would remain unaltered in the context of the unchanged development parameters.

“The potential for changed effects, therefore, relates to the distribution but not overall volume of traffic.”

However, dozens of members of public have submitted objections to the scheme, and Colchester Council’s waste, sustainability and infrastructure boss Martin Goss has called in the decision.

In a letter to planning bosses he said: “The application will push more traffic down Bartholomew Court which was only ever planned as a bus route for the Chesterwell development.

“This will displace existing resident parking and will push more traffic on to Mile End Road which is already difficult to exit at peak on to North Station Road as no traffic lights exist.

“This will make the situation worse. The original design and conditions should remain.”

Colchester Council’s planning committee will have the final say.