Roads fear over Deepcut Barracks housing plan

Residents have said they have "deep concerns" about the impact of housing on the barracks site

Significant road improvements would be needed to accommodate up to 1,200 homes on the site of Deepcut Barracks in Surrey, residents have said.

Surrey Heath Borough Council has judged the site of the controversial Princess Royal barracks to be suitable for housing when the Army leaves in 2013.

Deepcut Liaison Group (DLG) said residents main concern was potential traffic problems.

The council said it wants to balance housing and the village's rural nature.

DLG held a public meeting last week to discuss the council's strategic planning document for the barracks redevelopment.

Plans on show

"There is no doubt in my mind that the number one priority for local residents is traffic, traffic, traffic," said DLG chair Angela Mitchell.

She said local people were also concerned about the Woodend and Swordsman's Road recreation grounds and retaining woods to the west of the village.

Any supermarket should only be big enough to serve the needs of Deepcut village itself and be located to keep traffic away from Deepcut Bridge Road, she added.

A consultation period runs until 17 January, with an exhibition of the plans scheduled for 6 January at Deepcut Village Centre.

Council planning staff will be at the meeting to answer questions and residents can leave comments.

The council has said its four proposed options for the development are "by no means finalised".

"Their purpose is to generate discussion with regard to what layout would work best in Deepcut," it said.