THERE were shouts of disgust by angry residents when the second stage of plans for a new housing estate in Pershore were given the go ahead on Thursday - but without a corridor of space through the homes for a future relief road.

A crowd of Pershore residents turned up to the Wychavon District Council planning committee but they were left disappointed as detailed plans for the 86 home estate of Station Road to the north of the town were approved with no changes.

The group had hoped to see the application turned down to come back at a later date with changes to allow a road, which could stretch from Station Road, at its junction with the Wyre Road, run through the estate, behind Pershore Hall coming out to the north of the town on the B4084 Worcester Road.

Pershore's Mayor councillor Tony Rowley spoke at the meeting in favour of the relief road urging planners to consider including it in the plans to avoid a serious traffic problem at the junction of Station Road, Worcester Road and High Street, further down the line.

"Station Road is at a stand still at certain times of the day," he said. "The most severe traffic congestion is a both ends. Pinvin crossroads will be resolved with the Key Tech link. Suggestions for the other junction merely tinker with the problem.

"With the current traffic conditions add 600 plus houses and you are left with a disaster situation."

His call for help was echoed by local resident Peter Brookbank and local member Cllr Charles Tucker, who has led a campaign, resulting in a petition signed by more than 200 people, calling for the corridor of space.

He said: "The issue is traffic on Station Road and the nightmare of congestion that we see coming."

Their views were given some support by the committee, with Cllr Keith Wright asking if the application was the best they could do.

But many councillors said the corridor and the relief road were not to be considered as there were no plans for them in any existing proposals - unlike the Key Tech link.

Cllr Val Wood, also a Pershore ward member, said: "The outline permission with access was granted in May. Until recently there was no mention of a relief road probably because this was not discussed since 1992." She added that there was some provision for a future road on the site, which would see the removal of some green space should it come about.

The third Pershore district Cllr David Brotheridge, said he understood the traffic problems as he lives off Station Road but said at this stage they were only talking about an idea.

"Unfortunately it's not a proposal that has any backing from Worcestershire council highways or included in the South Worcestershire Development Plan," he added. "Refusal would result in an appeal being lost by Wychavon."

After a short debate the proposal was approved.

Speaking after the meeting Cllr Tucker said the councillors had ridden "roughshod" over residents and the decision had "condemned residents of Station Road to growing traffic jams and a future nightmare".