WINSFORD Town Council is backing residents in their fight to get traffic calming measures installed on a notorious road.

People living in the horseshoe off Abbotts Way say a new development by Weaver Vale Housing Trust is damaging their quality of life.

Neighbours Flo and Jackie Murphy, Mary Munro, Jean Ruxton, Con and Mary McGee and Jim Hagan believe the 11 affordable homes are a build too far and pose a serious risk to their safety.

Addressing the town council at its meeting on Monday night, the group said space was already so tight that there was little parking, no room to drive through when the bins were out and that tarmac was giving way under the pressure of all the traffic.

Most said they are too scared to leave cars out at night in case someone crashes into them.

Jim Hagan said: “Our quality of life has been greatly reduced. We used to have an apple blossom tree, it used to be a children’s playground at one time, now it’s just houses.”

Councillors voted unanimously in favour of writing to Cheshire West and Chester Council’s highways department to ask for traffic calming to be introduced.

Clr Charlie Parkinson said the council needs to find out where the section 106 money – cash donated by developers for the good of the community – has gone and see if it can be used to make the road safer.

He said: “We need to ask where is the money? Some of that could be used in some way so at least we can get something out of it for the residents.

“There’s going to be a lot more problems once people are in the houses.”

He urged the worried neighbours to attend the next community forum at the Lifestyle Centre on November 25 to put their questions directly to members of the highways department.

Councillors unanimously agreed to write to the highways department to request traffic calming measures be installed along with the warning signs that have been temporarily set up while the development is completed.

Weaver Vale Housing Trust’s Director of Housing and Community Services, Chris Rowbottom, said: “As we have previously stated this scheme will breathe new life into a disused area of land which was once well-known as an anti-social behaviour hot spot.

“The development brings important investment to the area and underlines the Trust’s firm commitment to invest in new and affordable housing of the most up to date design and build quality.

“This is particularly important at the moment as there is a significant need for more affordable housing to meet local demand.

“This scheme demonstrates the importance we place on investing in our neighbourhoods – despite the current recession.

“We work very closely with many partner organisations including Winsford Town Council. This development has been broadly welcomed within the community, therefore the public concerns may have been better addressed directly to the Trust, in order that we can assist them to work with the appropriate organisations.

“The development scheme complies with all the planning requirements and traffic regulations that were agreed by Vale Royal Borough Council.”