TRAFFIC chaos is feared for the Hatters Lane area of the London Road in High Wycombe after a bid failed to change access out of a new housing development.

Councillors tried to get an urgent probe into using land off the Hatters Lane roundabout as an exit for the homes after it recently came up for sale.

But the bid was rejected as work is already underway to put the access next to Currys superstore nearby. The developer said the land for sale is not suitable.

Councillors warn the agreed access will cause traffic chaos as residents leaving the new development – at former sewerage works – will only be able to turn left.

This means they will have to turn around at the Hatter Lane roundabout, already congested in rush hour, if heading eastbound towards London.

Councillor Peter Cartwright argued that using the land recently offered for sale – a former Rover garage next to an under-construction Big Yellow storage depot – would overcome this.

Saying he had ‘grave concerns’, Cllr Cartwright said: “At the morning peak the whole of that road eastbound is stationary.”

However, roads chief Councillor Valerie Letheren said the plans were too far advanced. She said: “The story is written – I don’t think there is anything I can do.”

Branding the move a 'futile exercise', Cllr Letheren, cabinet member for transportation, said: “It would probably not be such a good access because there is a dip.”

Yet an email from council planning boss Graham Winwright, seen by The Bucks Free Press, backs the Hatters Lane exit.

Mr Winwright, head of planning, environment and development, wrote: "From a highway perspective, it would have made sense for the new entrance to exit onto the Hatters Lane junction."

And St James Homes, the firm behind the 599-home scheme, slapped down the call.

In a statement, it said: “We have previously considered the access route via the balance of the Yellow Box site. “However, this is of insufficient size to accommodate the main access onto the Wycombe Marsh development.”

The land was not available for sale when given planning permission by Wycombe District Council.

The councillor 'call for action' was presented on behalf of Councillors Trevor Snaith and Ray Farmer, who represent Ryemead on WDC.

It was voted down by BCC's overview and scrutiny commissioning committee yesterday. Members said the county would not buy the land.

Cllr Snaith said: "They should have put it right and make good the problems they are creating that we are going to live with for many years."

Cllr Farmer said: “This will make congestion worse.”

Click the links below to see maps of the proposed new route and the development.