A leading community group in Marlow has slammed the “inadequate” traffic management programme for a huge town centre housing development as residents prepare for building work to start at the end of the month.

The Marlow Society says construction traffic plans for the Portland Gardens site to the west of the High Street do not protect the town’s busy streets from anticipated influx of heavy vehicles and criticised the lack of information available for residents.

The derelict houses have already been demolished and building work will begin in the last week of May according to developers, Crest Nicholson – but chairman of the Marlow Society, Martin Blunkell, hopes a more comprehensive plan will come to light before work begins.

He said: “Marlow needs a more comprehensive plan to protect the town. We know Lorries have been coming and going already and we assumed there would be a full plan before they arrived.

“A very inadequate traffic management plan has been offered which offers parking of inbound lorries on the by-pass until they are called forward via Spittal Street, High Street and Pound Lane.

“Construction traffic will be restricted at peak times which are unspecified. Working hours are 7am to 7pm plus 7am – 1pm on Saturday.”

Wycombe District Council gave plans for the 71 home development the green light back in November, despite the online application racking up hundreds of public objections.

Developers Crest Nicholson has insisted disruption will be kept to a minimum during construction.

A spokesman said: “Traffic to and from site is managed via a Construction Traffic Management Plan, and copies of this can be obtained from Wycombe District Council.

“Along with the principles agreed in this document, we will continue to work closely with our neighbours and The Marlow Society to ensure that disruption during construction is kept to a minimum.”