PLANS for 39 new homes in Drakes Broughton have been turned down by councillors, who said there was a lack of information available to them.

The application for the new development on land opposite Longfield in Stonebow Road, Drakes Broughton, was deferred from a meeting of the planning committee at Wychavon District Council in March so further information on the foul drainage system could be gathered.

However at a meeting on Thursday (April 24) councillors said they still felt there was insufficient information to approve the proposals.

Local member Paul Middlebrough spoke to the committee and asked them to consider the deliverability of the scheme as part of the five year plan, concerns raised by Network Rail about the drainage scheme and the possibility of flooding on the site.

The leader of Wychavon's speech was supported by Cllr Judy Pearce who said: "What we have here is that this is a sewage system design for one private development. We have no idea what it's capability is.

"It's up to the committee to have that knowledge in order to be able to take that decision."

Cllr Barrie Parmenter added his concerns about the nearby railway line, saying the line could be doubled and freight would increase on a track already creating more noise from a train than medically advisable to live near by.

This was echoed by Cllr David Brotheridge, who said: "I am concerned about the comments from Worcestershire Regulatory Services, especially noting the readings of 55 decibels to go over the recommended levels."

Despite hearing a warning from the committee chairman Cllr Linda Robinson and head of planning Georgio Framalicco about the possibility of losing an appeal should one be brought forward by the developers the vote was still to refuse the application.