A CAR "flew through the air" and crashed just up the road from the entrance of a proposed new housing estate in Malvern Wells.

Next week, Malvern Hills councillors will decide whether developer Cala Homes should be allowed to build 46 homes on land off Hanley Road.

Planning officers are recommending approval, but local residents say that traffic on Hanley Road travels dangerously fast, and the plans should be refused.

And they say the crash, in the early hours of Easter Sunday, at Hanley Road's junction with Rothwell Road and Green Lane, only goes to show how hazardous this section of road is.

Victoria Walter of Rothwell Road, who with her husband Peter has been leading the residents' opposition to the plan, said they were woken up at 3.30am on Easter Sunday by the car crash.

She said: "It has come up the Hanley Road towards Malvern Wells at considerable speed, well in excess of the 30mph limit. Tyre marks show that the driver miscalculated the bend, missed it and mounted the steep grass verge between Green Lane and Hanley Road. It clipped the zigzag bend sign, and took off, skimming the Hanley Road sign, and literally flew through the air, narrowly missing the ash tree."

Police confirmed that they and other emergency services were called to the scene and that one person had been arrested on suspicion of drink-driving.

Mrs Walter said police had told her the car's occupants had a very lucky escape. She said: "Locals have highlighted the dangers of this bend many times and here is yet another piece of proof that this is a dangerous bend."

On Wednesday, Malvern Hills District Council's southern area development management committee is meeting to discuss the plan. Officers are recommending approval, with the county council highways authority saying the impact of traffic is considered acceptable.

Steve Hird, managing director of Cala Homes Midlands, said: “Cala has proposed a new main vehicular access off Hanley Road, with the required visibility splays, to ensure the safe and free flow of traffic.

“A number of improvements were made to this access following discussions with the local authority and no objections have since by raised by the highways authority.”

Wednesday's meeting is being held at Dyson Perrins School, rather than the Council Chamber in Avenue Road, the usual venue, which is being used for election training.

Mr Walter urged as many residents as possible to turn out for the meeting, which starts at 7pm. He said: "The parish council will be turning out in force and will be speaking, and it would be great to have support from local people."