Families are sceptical about promises that a new housing estate planned for their area will lead to less traffic.

Permission for 125 houses to be built in Aristotle Lane, Oxford, in part rests on whether or not it will generate more traffic in the area. The site is currently used for light industrial work.

A survey has been done of existing traffic movements by Oxford City Council but residents say the figures are 'a wild over-estimate'.

Prof Susan Hurley, of nearby St Margaret's Road, who teaches politics at Warwick University, has carried out her own survey of traffic after being surprised at the numbers given.

"I found it very hard to believe that the traffic report we were given was accurate," she said. "And I found it wasn't. I can't even begin to replicate it. The traffic count was about 42 per cent higher in the report than a count which I did."

Prof Hurley said the report had not taken into consideration the fact that traffic from commercial premises was only generated five days a week, whereas that from houses would be seven days.

"The estimates are completely untrustworthy," she said.

Oxford City Council engineer John Keen said the survey was carried out by a traffic consultant and the council would be carrying out its own survey within the next week.

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