RESIDENTS are up in arms over a planned access road to serve a proposed 175-home housing estate in Handforth.

Jones Homes is seeking planning approval from Cheshire East Council for an access road off Hall Road to serve the homes, as well as an emergency access connection.

The access road would link Hall Road to the 175 houses proposed at Sun Field, and the emergency access road would link Hall Road to the adjacent Sanctuary retirement village development.

Outline approval for the 175 homes was granted in 2016, and more than 120 residents have written to Cheshire East Council opposing the access application because of the narrowness of Hall Road, which they said served a church, school and housing estate.

The application is also opposed by Handforth Neighbourhood Plan steering group and Handforth Parish Council.

The steering group said: “Hall Road is a narrow road that gives access to St Benedicts’ Church, St Benedict’s Primary School and the Woodlands Road housing estate. Close to its junction with Station Road it is often partially occluded by cars parked outside St Benedict’s Church.

“The central part of Hall Road is so narrow two-way traffic has to proceed with great care. The eastern end of Hall Road is frequently occluded by parked cars associated with St Benedict’s School or with shoppers’ visits to Handforth Dean.

“During the times of the school run, many schoolchildren and their parents have a need to walk across Hall Road. Any increase in traffic would present an additional hazard for such pedestrians.

“It would also produce an unacceptable level of traffic noise and pollution for the residents and St Benedict’s school.”

A transport assessment accompanying the application said the proposed new access and emergency access could be delivered in accordance with design standards, and it was not anticipated the scheme would generate any new or additional traffic movements to the local roads.