Roads chiefs have been urged to use an Angus housing project as the springboard for improvements to Arbroath traffic troublespots.
An early stage planning notice has come forward from developer Persimmon Homes for a field to the north west of the town on East Muirlands Road.
The Proposal of Application Notice (PAN) gives no indication of how many homes are planned for the 9.4 hectare site and planning officials told the area’s development standards committee that more detailed proposals will be brought forward as the company progresses the plan.
Locals will have their chance to discuss the proposal with the developers at a public consultation event arranged for Dundee and Angus College on Keptie Road on September 22, from 2.30 to 7pm.
The applicants have said that comments made on the day will be considered prior to the submission of a planning application to the council.
However, a pair of local councillors used the PAN hearing at committee level to flag up traffic issues which they are hopeful might be tackled when the detailed scheme comes forward.
Top of the list is a narrow s-bend leading northwards from the town adjacent to the Western Cemetery and towards Woodville.
Councillor David Fairweather said: “The double bend down there on the road leading out of Arbroath is narrow and I am sure that at the time the application comes forward that we could improve that at the same time.”
Fellow town councillor Alex King said the creation of a large number of new homes could also lead to problems leading into Arbroath.
“The cemetery junction has been improved with traffic lights but that would be another bottleneck that could develop and perhaps we could look at improving the East Muirlands Road junction with Keptie Road as part of this.”
Council head of planning and place, Vivien Smith’s report said the site currently an agricultural field is located near the town’s main electrical substation.
“The site lies outwith but immediately adjacent to the development boundary of Arbroath and is not specifically allocated for housing in the Angus local plan review,” she said.
“However, it is identified as a new housing allocation in the emerging Angus local development plan.”
The official said that among the main issues likely to emerge during consideration of the proposals which come forward are housing supply considerations, the use of prime agricultural land for residential development, landscape and visual impact and the acceptability of layout and design.