Traffic and road safety are among concerns raised over a plans for 70 new homes in 'Suffolk's Smallest Town'. 

If it is given the go-ahead by West Suffolk Council, the new Rainier Developments homes will be built on land off Cavendish Road in Clare, opposite the 53-home Weavers Way site and near Stour Valley Community School. 

Last week Clare Town Council released a statement voicing its fears that services are at "breaking point" with particular concern for GPs and schools where it feared adding 70 new families would "exacerbate the situation to an intolerable level."

The land off Cavendish Road in ClareThe land off Cavendish Road in Clare (Image: Newsquest) Now Bobby Bennett, county councillor for Clare, has raised her own concerns for the development of the town. 

“Clare Town Council have rightly raised concerns about the potential impact of the proposed development on Cavendish Road, particularly in light of the fact that we are yet to see the full impact of the development that is currently under construction," she said.

"The new government is imposing vast targets for new homes and these must not come at the cost of communities like Clare."

Bobby BennettBobby Bennett (Image: SCC) In July the government revealed its aims to build 1.5m more homes across the country in the next five years.

Under the scheme the yearly target for homes delivered in West Suffolk is set to increase from just over 800 to around 1,200.

Ms Bennett said: "I would ask that developers have meaningful conversations with local people and work with us to establish what community investment and mitigation is necessary should the application go ahead.

"I am particularly concerned about the impact this may have on traffic on Cavendish Road and within the town.

"My firm view is that the required infrastructure, whether that’s road safety measures or community facilities, should come before the new housing - not several years after it."