THE controversial expansion of a village caravan park next to the River Severn will be discussed by councillors next week amid concerns over road safety.

Holt Fleet Caravan Park wants to make space for another 50 static holiday caravans at its site in Holt Heath near Worcester.

Wychavon District Council’s planning committee meets in Pershore next Thursday (February 3) to discuss the proposal with a recommendation from its planning officers that it is given the green light.

The plan has proved controversial with Ombersley Parish Council objecting to the planned expansion saying the village already had enough caravans and was worried about extra traffic on an already busy and accident-hit main road.

The parish council said expansion of caravan sites in the area were not supported by residents in its recent household parish survey carried out in preparation for its neighbourhood plan.

“There are already several large sites, at the Wharf, Winnall and Holt Fleet, and any increase risks destroying the very environment people come to the area to seek and enjoy, as well as destroying the landscape residents living in the parish value,” the parish council said.

Several other objectors from the village also referred to road safety in their concerns saying the A4133 through Holt Fleet was a “busy, high speed, narrow road” with a large amount of HGV traffic, “many” blind bends, “unsatisfactory” paths and “dangerous” junctions.

Objectors were worried that moving more caravans onto the site would create more traffic and see more people crossing the road and it was “only a matter of time before a very serious incident occurred.”

Highways officers at Worcestershire County Council have been working to improve road safety around Holt Fleet and has put forward several proposed upgrades which would have to take place before it could support the expansion work including changes to entrances, new signs and improvements to some of the park’s private roads.

A report, to be discussed by councillors, said: “The proposal would fit in with the field and settlement pattern of the local area and as proposed should fit well into the local landscape despite its open plateau setting. It would therefore respect local character, the local landscape and the setting of the Uphampton conservation area.”