There should be no more major housing developments in Witney until the town's roads have been improved, according to councillors.

Witney Town Council's planning committee made the comments in response to an application by Persimmon Homes and David Wilson Homes to build 160 homes on the former Woolhouse site, between Dark Lane and Puck Lane.

Town councillor Steve Holborough said: "The road infrastructure has reached breaking point and there just isn't the capacity to take more traffic created by new housing developments.

"We need things like the Cogges link road, the West End link, and a junction to connect the A40 with West Witney.

"There are also parking issues with the development, and traffic will be piling out of there into what is already a congested area.

"We do need affordable houses, but only when we know the roads can take the extra traffic."

District councillor Warwick Robinson, chairman of the lowlands planning committee, said the comments would be taken into account.

But, he said the county council was the key adviser on highways. He said: "The greatest weight as regards the suitability of the road network is given to them."

Residents of Dark Lane, Puck Lane, and Mill Street have been dismayed by the plans.

Sue Hewer, of Queen Emmas Dyke, said: "Given that each of those houses will have at lease one car, traffic will be a nightmare."

Andrew Duncan, a chartered forester who lives in Gloucester Place, has complained about the loss of many mature trees and the possible loss of a family of tawny owls.

He said: "I think the developers are being too greedy with the number of housing developments they want to put in."

Philip Neale, Persimmon's land director, said they were not aware of objections about highways and said access would be from Woodford Way, only recently built by the county council.

He added: "With regard to the density of the site and retention of greenery, we have followed the original design brief very closely and held considerable negotiations with the case planning officer to ensure our application meets local require- ments."

A spokesman for David Wilson Homes said a tree survey had identified all the healthy trees in good form which would be kept, as well as new trees planted as part of a landscaped open space area.

* The lowlands planning committee hopes to make a decision at its meeting on November 20.