PLANS to build 45 homes on the edge of a village have been unanimously rejected after 100 people turned up to a public meeting to speak out against them.

Bovis Homes has submitted the planning application to Malvern Hills District Council to build the houses on land next to The Crown pub in Powick.

Powick Parish Council’s planning committee unanimously voted to object to the plans at a public meeting at Powick Primary School on Wednesday evening, during which concerns were raised about an increase in traffic, access to the site and the sustainability of the village.

As previously reported, the 2.7 hectare site was originally considered for development, but was dropped from the final version of the South Worcestershire Development Plan (SWDP).

Access to the development is proposed via Russell Close and involves demolishing one of the houses on the estate.

But residents at the meeting said access would be difficult and would threaten the safety of the children and families living in the estate.

One woman, who lives in Russell Close, said: “The roads are very narrow and the mud and everything that will come in and off that site will be like ice.

“Why come in via Russell Close and knock down an existing building?”

Another resident said: “Some years ago, I used to watch the children going up and down Russell Close, playing, doing all the things young kids like to do.

“I used to think to myself, one of these days there will be an accident. The thought that we are going to have bulldozers crashing through that house makes me very angry.

“I don’t think we should subject children to that, I think it’s quite barbaric.”

Questions were also raised about the impact the new development would have on traffic on the A449, with one resident saying there is already a “virtually continuous” traffic jam on the road at times.

Residents also raised concerns over the sustainability of the village, with one man saying that while the character of the development is family homes, Powick has “no facilities whatsoever” such as a doctors’ surgery or even a post office.

He also questioned if the school would be expanded to educate the children.

Following the public meeting, disctrict and county councillor Tom Wells urged residents to submit their comments to Malvern Hills District Council, which will have the final say.