A major new development to include thousands of new homes on the northern fringe of Ipswich is set to be discussed by councillors.

Suffolk County Council has raised serious doubts about whether the town’s roads will cope with the extra traffic, if the scheme is given the green light.

And it has also flagged up concerns that people living in the area will not be aware of traffic-calming measures that need to be taken. The county’s cabinet is due to discuss its response to the proposals for the northern fringe when it meets next week.

Cabinet member with responsibility for transport and planning, Guy McGregor, said the issue of transport needed to be handled very carefully.

“We are not convinced that all the transport issues have been adequately dealt with,” he told The Star. “If there are thousands of new homes, there will have to be measures to ensure that people don’t all use their cars at the same time.”

Among the solutions being suggested at the cabinet meeting, are proposals for a cycle route to be created through Christchurch Park, and in the long term a bridge over the railway line is suggested to replace the Westerfield level crossing.

The new development would have to give priority to public transport, cycling, and walking – but Mr McGregor said this would have to be made clear to new residents from the start.

Unlike the Ravenswood community which was built on the town’s former airfield, the northern fringe spine roads would also he heavily used by other traffic heading towards the town – along Henley Road, Westerfield Road and Tuddenham Road.

Mr McGregor warned: “There are major issues to be faced with traffic management, and we are not convinced they have all been addressed at this stage.”

n Are you worried about traffic from the Northern Fringe? Write to Your Letters, Ipswich Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or email starletters@ archant.co.uk