A MASSIVE housing development to provide homes for the 1,000 troops moving to Stafford has been approved.
Outline plans to build 350 homes at MoD Stafford’s Beaconside barracks went before Stafford Borough Council’s planning panel on Tuesday.
As well as the two and three-storey properties the proposals include open space and a new entrance to replace the existing one.
Ward councillor Jack Kemp said a set of traffic lights further up the road outside the base was installed because three people were killed there.
He said: “There have been numerous accidents at the bottom entrance into the old airmens’ married quarters because this has a 50 mile an hour speed limit. The speed limit should be changed.
“The people turning into that site will not see a vehicle coming over the railway bridge until it’s almost on them. I’m surprised the highways authority hasn’t recognised the dangers. Maybe there will have to be another three deaths before they decide to do something.”
Paul Hurdus, highways development control engineer for Staffordshire County Council, said: “We are satisfied with the visibility. We are content in terms of the safety of that access. Yes, there’s some congestion on the A513 but overall we are happy as a highways authority with the traffic generated by the site.”
Councillor Ian Hollinshead said there would be a lot of traffic congestion there.
Mr Hurdus replied: “We have assessed this in terms of a non-signal controlled junction. I’m satisfied we don’t need signals there.”
Proposing the plans be approved Councillor Andrew Harp said: “It’s no use arguing about it. We should approve this and get it on its way.”
Councillor Ann Edgeller suggested having a sewerage assessment done and the application was passed by 12 votes to one, including the assessment.
