TOWN councillors fear a planned housing estate could cause "mayhem" at a busy Crewe roundabout.

They want planning officials to look again at an application from David Wilson Homes seeking Cheshire East Council's permission to build a 148-home estate, including affordable housing, on land off Sydney Road near to Crewe Green Road roundabout.

While the land is allocated for housing in Cheshire East's Local Plan concerns have been raised by nearby residents who fear the proposals will pack in too many houses in a "small area", while the estate will generate more traffic congestion near to the busy roundabout.

Others claim the houses are not in keeping with other homes in the area, do not have enough recreational space provided and lack of off-street parking places, while there are warnings about the loss of green space between Sydney and Haslington.

Crewe Town Council was asked for their comments on the plans and at last night's planning meeting Cllr Dennis Straine-Francis declared: "It's going to cause mayhem on the Crewe Green roundabout in the morning and at night.

"I think the developers are being greedy in trying to put too many houses in too small a place - 148 is way too many."

Cllr Tom Dunlop said there could be difficulties for motorists accessing the estate itself.

"There are apartments at one end, so it will be one-in and one-out, there are so many things wrong with it. These plans need to be looked at again," said Cllr Dunlop.

Planning committee chairman Cllr John Rhodes said it was unusual that there was no highways report accompanying the scheme yet.

"We have concerns on the site, but we can't object per se as it is allocated for housing," he said. "It will be interesting to see the highways report."

Councillors voted to express their concerns to Cheshire East Council over the estate's plans.