FEARS have been voiced that an increase in traffic from an eight house development on the site of an old pub could lead to a serious accident on an already busy road.

In December 2010, developers Mirad Properties Ltd withdrew their application to demolish the old Spotted Dog pub in Ivy Chimneys Road in Epping and build nine three bedroom houses on the site.

Residents had expressed fears that an increase in traffic from the development could be dangerous.

They said that the road was already packed with vehicles using the road as a shortcut, many of which broke the 30 miles per hour speed limit, endangering pedestrians.

Now their fears have re-emerged as developers Spotted Dog Ivy Chimneys Ltd have submitted an application with Epping Forest District Council to build eight houses with parking space for twenty vehicles at the site.

Anne Heneghan, 58, lives directly opposite the pub.

She said: “I have almost been run over three times recently coming out of my drive.

“The cars go so fast down the road and there is nothing to stop them. They come flying over the brow of the hill and you can’t see them when you are trying to cross. It is a wonder that no one has been killed.

“The road is far too busy as it is and having another eight houses down here would just add insult to injury.”

Mrs Heneghan said that children and parents walking to nearby Ivy Chimneys Primary school were in already danger from traffic and called for speed cameras to be put up on the road and the plans for the houses to be rejected.

Christine Wooton, 64, lives a few doors down from the Spotted Dog.

She said: “That pub is an eyesore but if they do put up the houses they should at least impose some traffic calming measures, especially with the school children around.”

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