PLANS for a major new development on the northern edge of Ledbury could lead to drivers using a neighbouring village as a rat run.

Bloor Homes Western has applied to build up to 625 new homes on land north of the railway viaduct. The plan also includes 2.9 hectares to be developed for employment.

But concerns have already been voiced about the access proposed in the planning application, a roundabout off the Bromyard Road.

And Peter Constantine, who chairs the Wellington Heath Neighbourhood Development Plan, says the proposal will merely cause greater traffic congestion and cause drivers to use rat runs through the village.

He said: "A single access will cause traffic congestion at the Bromyard Road/Hereford Road junction under the railway bridge. The junction is already under stress and the proposed mini roundabout will not relieve the issue.

"A primary access to the Hereford Road under the viaduct joining the Ledbury ring road is the sensible approach with, for safety reasons, a secondary access to the Bromyard Road.

"Traffic congestion at the Bromyard Road/Hereford Road junction will encourage vehicles to use local village lanes as rat runs, in particular through Wellington Heath. These country lanes are very narrow, often single lane. Many pedestrians and cyclists use Beggars Ash through to the Ledbury Road to and from Wellington Heath. There are no footpaths and often vehicle have to stop or reverse in order to pass.

"The use of Knapp Lane as a rat run is dismissed as being illogical, but the report does not take into account local knowledge and common sense. There are times of the day and times of the year when traffic to and from Malvern will avoid Ledbury town centre. In simple terms, Knapp Lane is already a rat run."

A spokesman for Bloor Homes said: “The planning application includes a comprehensive transport assessment, the scope of which has been agreed with Herefordshire Council as the highway authority. The assessment concludes that the highway network can satisfactorily accommodate the traffic levels which would be generated by the proposed development. "