A NEW housing estate in Drakes Broughton got the thumbs up from planners after road-safety concerns raised in the past were overcome.

The 90 home estate on land adjacent to Langham in Worcester Road, Drakes Broughton, near Pershore, was deferred last month by the Wychavon District Planning Committee as concerns were raised about the safety of pedestrians walking from the development into the village or to the bus stop.

But councillors felt many of the problems had been dealt with since the last meeting.

The plans, by Bovis Homes, also had the support of the parish council.

Ken Skillern, chairman of Drakes Broughton Parish Council, spoke at the meeting saying an agreement had been reached to create a footpath on the south side of the road so people could access the bus stop.

"This site was put forward by the parish council as their preferred site in the South Worcestershire Development Plan for 50 homes," he said. "Add to this already agreed sites. We believe the village will have taken far more of its fair share of extra housing. We ask the committee to do all they can to prevent future housing in Drakes Broughton."

Chairman of the committee councillor Linda Robinson said she was happy with where they were now with the development, which will include 36 affordable homes, but hoped they could keep an eye on one aspect.

"I am happy enough with where we are now with one one reservation that the south facing bus stop being down in the lay by at the opposite end of the site to the access on a blind bend," she said.

"It's never been an issue because no-one has wanted to cross that road but we can only hope that parents of children will recognise it and should there ever be an accident or issue with people nipping through hedges, they could then consider moving the bus stop."

Cllr David Brotheridge seconded the motion for proposal and said: "The key issue that caused concern last time of course was highways and I feel they have safely address these concerns."