Labour councillor say there will be an increase in traffic congestion due to road closures due to begin in Coalville next month.

Jackson Street and Wentworth Road will be closed to traffic for eight weeks from Monday, February 1.

This is because a new access road is being built to serve 190 new houses being built on the old allotments.

All traffic from Wentworth Road, Bedale Close and Zetland Close will be diverted along Vaughan Street, Gutteridge Street and Owen Street.

County Councillor Terri Eynon and District Councillor John Geary have concerns regarding all the extra traffic that will be forced onto these roads.

Councillors representing the town centre have been concerned about congestion for a number of years.

Cllr Geary said: "There are problems along Belvoir Road, Owen St and Marlborough Square as well as other streets in the town centre. These are all due to a lack of highway infrastructure."

The new homes on the Wentworth Road site are likely to be joined by another 520 homes proposed off Highfield Street.

Cllr Eynon said: "We believe that at times our town will be gridlocked, yet the County Highways Authority continue to raise no objections to these applications at the planning stage."

The Labour Groups at both Councils say they understand the need for new homes but not at any cost and certainly not without the infrastructure to accommodate them.