FEARS have been voiced that plans to build a major new retail park on the outskirts of Oxford will snarl up access to the city from the A34 and A420.

A planning application has been submitted to the Vale of White Horse District Council which would almost quadruple the number of shops in Seacourt Retail Park in Botley, from three to 11.

The proposal would also lead to the demolition of a BP petrol station.

Residents nearby are concerned the development would increase traffic at the Botley interchange roundabout and make it more difficult for them to leave their West Oxford homes. They are also angered by the loss of the petrol station, which would leave motorists needing to travel to Eynsham, the Pear Tree or Wolvercote roundabouts, or into the city centre at Oxpens to fill up.

Ag MacKeith, who lives opposite the retail park in Old Botley, said: “I’d be worried about more traffic snarling up the junction. It is already ridiculous. The petrol station would also be a loss as it’s extremely handy.”

A survey carried out by Motion transport planning estimates the scheme would create 84 more vehicle journeys inbound and outbound during the Saturday afternoon rush hour, on top of the present level of 485 vehicles.

Just 13 extra vehicles are expected in the Friday evening rush hour – 60 fewer than estimated when previous plans to create seven retail outlets and retain the petrol station were approved in 2008.

However, the survey does not show the impact of the shops on the morning rush hour, when employees at the shops would travel in to work.

Sheila Clapham, 67, from West Way, said: “It will be diabolical. We’ll get people coming from all over, and the road isn’t big enough to take it.

“It will cause havoc and a lot of frustration for motorists. The Botley Road is bad enough as it is. Taking the petrol station away is stupid.”

Andrew Pritchard, 71, from Laburnum Road agreed. He said: “The petrol station is pretty well used and that will be a loss of convenience.”

The plans would also see the creation of an extra access lane, linking the retail park to the A420. Motorists are currently only allowed to exit from the BP petrol station.

The junction plan was granted planning permission in August 2007, despite objections from North Hinksey Parish Council which feared it would cause problems for traffic leaving Oxford.

Brad Critcher, director of TDH Estates, which is developing the site on behalf of British Airways Pension Trustees, said the development was unlikely to be built before 2012. He said: “Our scheme concerns the number of units and makes them smaller and more lettable.

“This is not the creation of new space but the reorganising of space that’s already there. The impact on the highway network will be negligible. Trips to retail parks are not taken at times when the rest of the road network is busy.”

The plans will be discussed by North Hinksey Parish Council’s planning committee on November 18. Vale of the White Horse District Council aims to decide the application in January.