A SITE visit will take place to inspect the grounds of five new homes in Headless Cross after a heated debate by councillors and residents.

At the Town Hall last Tuesday residents near the planned site just off Burns Close put forward their concerns over inadequate road space for emergency vehicles.

Local residents measured the road width at 4.8 metres meaning fire engines called to emergencies there would struggle to get through.

Councillor Pat Wilson said: "The road width is encouraging people to park on the pavement which in itself will cause accidents."

Redditch Fire Safety Officer Len Mouatt said: "Parking on pavements is our main trouble with residents. The minimum distance for planning road width is 3.7 metres, which means that a fire engine will be able to get through.

"However it makes it very difficult for a fire engine to get through when people park on the pavements reducing road widths considerably."

Other objections for the planned houses came about a protected oak and endangered animals in the area.

Residents believe badgers are living in the planned building area and a protected oak tree in Burns Close may be severely cut.