A scheme for 300 homes in Wroxham would cause even worse traffic congestion into Hoveton and spoil views of the Broads, it is claimed.

Residents expressed their strong opposition at a Broadland District Council exhibition in Wroxham Church Hall, which unveiled the plans for public consultation.

The development is being proposed on land owned by the Trafford estate off Salhouse Road; as part of the scheme Wroxham Football Club would move to the site from its present Skinners Lane home, with the old ground also being developed for homes. The public has until December 19 to respond to the proposals which could be incorporated in Broadland's local development framework within two years.

John Halford, chairman of the parish council, pointed out that the 300 homes development far exceeded Wroxham's proposed housing allocation which had been set at 100 to 200 homes. He stressed that even that number had been decided on the basis that Wroxham was a key service centre when, in fact, the doctors' surgery, schools and shops were all over the bridge in Hoveton.

He said: 'We currently have 720 homes in Wroxham, so building 300 new ones would increase the size of the community by more than 40pc.

'Traffic along Norwich Road and over the bridge into Hoveton is already bad and the worry of a lot of residents is that it will get a lot worse if these plans go ahead.'

He said the exhibition was the start of the process and it was important residents helped the parish council put forward a constructive response, suggesting what plans might be acceptable on the site.

Pamela Hipkiss, who runs a bed and breakfast in Norwich Road, said: 'Guests already have a problem reversing their cars out on to the road.'

Even now children faced a frustrating journey across the bridge to school and it was the same story for people going into Hoveton for the shops or doctors' surgery.

Wroxham Football Club secretary Chris Green said the club was at a crossroads with its lease running out in 18 months so it needed to move to secure its future.

stephen.pullinger@archant.co.uk