MOVES to set up a bus route through a residential street have met a furious response from residents.The proposed route would run through Brendon Drive, Rushmere St Andrew - and could be included in plans to build a new district centre on nearby Bixley Farm.

MOVES to set up a bus route through a residential street have met a furious response from residents.

The proposed route would run through Brendon Drive, Rushmere St Andrew, and could be included in plans to build a new district centre on nearby Bixley Farm.

Nearly 40 residents, many from Brendon Drive, attended a meeting of Rushmere St Andrew Parish Council to voice their concerns.

Michael Bantock, neighbourhood watch leader in Brendon Drive, said: "I consider the possibility of buses coming down here to be very dangerous. "Brendon Drive is unsuitable for buses and nearby Penzance Road and Beech Road are already served by the Super Route 66 service, which makes another bus service unnecessary."

This is a view shared by many Brendon Drive residents.

Karen Bryant, 38, said: "There is no need for it. We have just put our house on the market because we do not want buses coming down here. The road is just not big enough for a bus and we have already got the Route 66 buses."

Philip Godbold, 77, said: "I think it terrible. You only need one car to be parked on the corner and you can't see round it."

Wendy Colbert, 35, said: "We actually measured the road and it is narrower than Penzance Road, so it is unsuitable for buses. There is a steep hill and the buses would be very close to the edge of the road."

Mark Tripp, 42, said: "While I applaud the idea of having a set of shops up here, I don't see the point of having buses coming up here as the road is too narrow."

Rushmere St Andrew councillor, Gordon Laing said that the concerns of the residents would be passed on to Suffolk District Council, who will make the final decision on the plans in October.

But he added: "The plans were drawn up about ten years ago and we did envisage a bus route through the estate."

"As far as I am aware, Brendon Drive was built with a view to buses going along it."

The proposals include plans for retail outlets, a friends' meeting house and a community centre.

WEBLINK: www.ipswichbuses.co.uk