GIANT developer, Multiplex, fighting to bring the 5,000 home Mereham new town to Wilburton, has made an 11th hour bid to change its plans for the A10 bypass. It wants to put its new ideas before planning inspector, Richard Ogier, who must decide whether t

GIANT developer, Multiplex, fighting to bring the 5,000 home Mereham new town to Wilburton, has made an 11th hour bid to change its plans for the A10 bypass.

It wants to put its new ideas before planning inspector, Richard Ogier, who must decide whether the new town project has a future.

But he refused to make a judgement on whether the changes can be considered by the inquiry until he had heard highways evidence from Cambridgeshire County Council and the Highways Agency this week.

The changes involve widening the A10 only from Stretham to Denny End, and not to the Milton roundabout as previously intended.

There will be additional traffic lanes to the north of the Milton interchange, no right turn at the northern Landbeach junction and a new footbridge over the widened A10 at Butt Lane.

The move comes after residents living on the A10 told the inspector three weeks ago that widening the carriageway would make it impossible for them to leave their homes by car.

If the changes are ruled admissible at the inquiry, highways consultants David Tucker Associates will submit new drawings.

Mr Ogier said: "I do not rule out the possibility of having to extend the inquiry."

But Amanda Mays, Cambridgeshire County Council's team leader for accident investigation and prevention, told the inquiry on Tuesday that the changes do little to address the existing safety issues or to improve the overall capacity of this already very busy road.

In fact, she fears that the proposals would increase accidents and widening the A10 would increase overtaking on some sections and increased queuing on others.

"It is frustrating to have to spend many months reviewing a scheme only for the developer to submit new evidence at such a late stage," she said. "My primary work is improving road safety and my time should have been spent creating schemes that would save lives.