Ashby councillors have expressed concern at the prospect of traffic congestion in Nottingham Road when work starts on the proposed new Money Hill housing development.

Town councillors have been told work could begin 12 months from now.

But it was made clear that Ashby must not be 'stitched up' when it comes to keeping the bulk of construction traffic away from Nottingham Road.

Ian Rhodes, a consultant with Stratland Management Limited, met with members of the Ashby de la Zouch Town Council's planning and transport committee on Monday.

He feels that, if an application is passed by North West Leicestershire District Council next spring, then building work could get under way in the autumn of next year.

That would mean a new roundabout being constructed on the A511 Ashby by-pass to allow access to the new development which is due to see 605 properties built.

But work would also begin on Nottingham Road where it is thought the sales area would be situated.

Taylor Wimpey and Bloor Homes will be constructing the properties.

Plans showing National Forest planting and drainage systems, could be submitted and validated by November.

Mr Rhodes also said discussions with North West Leicestershire District Council are in the preliminary stages with a formal pre-application starting soon.

But he added that if anyone has seen work being carried out on the site, that is part of the archaeology work being conducted.

Mr Rhodes said: "It is the hope of the Bloor/Taylor Wimpey group, that if they can get their application in during the next month or so, they will get approval in the Spring of next year, and then be able to get started around this time next year.

"The two properties on Nottingham Road, numbers 3 and 5, are being bought in to provide the access and the consortium will be completing on those by the end of this month.

"I am in contact with the owners of numbers 1 and 7 Nottingham Road, they are concerned as they are either side of the access. They need to consulted."

However, the amount of extra traffic on an already busy road was a question aimed at Mr Rhodes.

Cllr Dan Harrison said: "I am concerned at how this development is going to happen. Particularly with heavy vehicles going in and out.

"Can you confirm that this won't be used as lorry access on to Nottingham Road?"

Mr Rhodes replied: "There are strict provisions that the primary access to the site is the A511.

"I can't speak definitively about how they're going to do all this, I don't think they know themselves yet.

"I would suggest they will want to keep the Nottingham Road end as the sales site.

"It would make logical sense. The muck and bullets would be at the other end."

Cllr Harrison added: "As a county councillor I asked the County Council for a survey and the last result was about 14,000 vehicles a day on that road.

"The other day from Market Street, it was nose to tail all the way up.

"So I have great concerns. We have to be really careful as we could cause a lot of problems there.

"What we don't want is Nottingham Road abused with sludge and massive congestion.

"I am also concerned about pollution and lorries, there's a lot of things that have to be addressed."

Mr Rhodes said: "Before any of this starts, they will need to co-ordinate their activities and co-operate with local people and yourselves. I will make sure that is done. Watch this space.

"They've chosen to do the whole 605 in one go, so it is an enormous undertaking.

"Once they've started work, they'll want occupancy as soon as possible and they're limited to 100 at the Nottingham Road access. They'll start on the A511 end first."

Cllr Andreas Ioannou-Nikou also raised the question of the proximity of Ashby School to the work expected to take place.

He said: "You'd have to think about what time the construction side will open, otherwise the traffic could be crazy. It could be dangerous."

Mr Rhodes added: "At some point you have to use Nottingham Road, but that is a relatively small element of work.

"It ought to be possible to do this with very little disruption to Nottingham Road."

Cllr Mike Ball added: "We've always said the development of the site needs to be done from the A511.

"The planning application should make this absolutely clear, you can't just have stone lorries coming from the quarry into Nottingham Road. It has to be done from the rear.

"We'll be looking at the reserve matters application when it comes forward in November with great interest.

"We're not going to get stitched up, we really are not."