‘DISASTER and danger’ is on the horizon for hundreds of residents in Chudleigh unless officials at Parliament intervene.

Town mayor Cllr Mike Underwood has fired off a letter to housing minister Dominic Raab MP seeking help to ‘prevent a potential planning disaster’.

Developers Linden Homes have lodged a venture to build 230 homes on land at Station Hill, which has been given outline approval.

But alarm bells are ringing over the safety of access from the new estate to Chudleigh because Station Hill is notorious for its narrow carriageway and pavement.

Concerned councillors fear the main hazard route will be made worse with a hike in traffic and pedestrian movements.

A proposed solution has been drafted up, but it involved closing down one of the town’s oldest access routes.

Blocking off Oldway, which is used as an exit by 20 per cent of the town, would create a cul-de-sac for more than 300 homes and would force motorists towards the already congested town centre.

Cllr Underwood and the rest of the town council are scratching their heads over the mooted move which won’t address any of the issues at Station Hill.

He said: ‘While solutions are available and have been suggested the town council is alarmed that its protestations and those of Chudleigh residents are apparently being ignored.

‘We are blindly being led into a potentially serious and dangerous situation.’

Cllr Underwood added: ‘If allowed to proceed to final detailed planning consent and without proper consideration of the outstanding safety issues, it will create an untenable and expensive problem for the future.’

Officials at the town council believe a ‘disastrous and dangerous’ future is forecasted unless the access issues are sorted.

The mayor believes the potential issues could be addressed if a public consultation is put out for the community to get involved in.

His letter to MP Dominic Raab reads: ‘Your help is sought in delaying the process until proper and meaningful consultations take place and any influence you can exert in this matter will be very much appreciated.’

Members of the town council’s planning committee strongly objected to the scheme and lodged its concerns with Teignbridge Council.

The controversial planning application is expected to be reviewed by district planners at Teignbridge Council next month.