Residents predict the new housing development will bring extra traffic, increase congestion, noise and air pollution.
The large Salden Chase development has been given outline planning approval by the Buckinghamshire Council Strategic Planning Committee, despite large opposition.
The new development would see over 1,800 new homes being built alongside two schools and will sit on the border of Milton Keynes. Eventually, up to 5,500 houses could be built in following stages.
Residents are now campaigning for a new bypass to be built to help residents avoid the extra traffic, increased congestion, noise and air pollution they expect it to bring.
The petition is calling upon the 'Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to provide funding for a Bletchley Southern bypass in line with the Levelling Up White Paper'.
According to the petition, a Bletchley Southern Bypass would allow through traffic from Salden Chase to bypass the A421 and Buckingham Road, which already see a high amount of drivers using it during rush hours.
Both West Bletchley Town Council and Newton Longville Parish Council originally objected to the plans back in 2020. They say the site lies in open countryside, and Aylesbury Vale has enough land for housing for the next five years.
Local Conservative Councillors attended the planning committee and argued in opposition to the plans. Cllr Allan Rankine (Bletchley Park) called it a “parasitic development” where “Milton Keynes residents will bear most of the pain whilst Bucks will receive all of the council tax gain”.
Cllr Rankine raised concerns about the impact that additional traffic will have on residents and that not enough had been done to mitigate against these concerns.
Cllr James Lancaster, Tattenhoe ward, said residents feel like they’re “part of an experiment” and reiterated Cllr Rankine’s point about an increase in traffic congestion and loss of biodiversity.
After the application was approved, Cllr Allan Rankine, added: “Unfortunately, despite the strong arguments presented by objectors, Committee Members agreed to go along with the officer reports and approve the application.
"The suggested mitigation for Buckingham Road congestion is to reduce the redway width on Sherwood drive roundabout to create more road space. It is an incredibly bad idea that won’t work. They need to come up with something better”
You can read or sign the petition here.
