NOT one member of a 100- strong audience debating plans for a 50-home development near Malvern spoke in favour of the scheme, a councillor has said.

Tom Wells called the public meeting to discuss controversial plans in Powick.

He said the two-hour debate, attended by agent Bernie Smith on behalf of applicant Graham Price, raised valid concerns over an increase in traffic in the area off Sparrowhall Lane near the A449.

“One of the major concerns is the condition banning vehicle movements across the A449 carriageway,” said Coun Wells. “This means traffic through the nearby estate would increase.

“These alternative routes are not designed to accommodate a significant increase in vehicles.

“On the face of it, it seems a sensible decision but I don’t think the applicant has thought about the unintended consequences of this.

“I didn’t hear anyone speak in favour of the plans.”

Should permission be granted, 30 of the homes will be for sale on the open market with the remaining 20 being affordable homes.

Sparrowhall Lane resident Trevor Bell said the planned highways changes would send motorists along narrow lanes “closer to the elderly and playing children”.

“We believe, therefore, that while those residents directly impacted by this potential development may have been alerted to it and its consequences by the normal planning process, those only indirectly effected are left unaware that traffic levels past their properties will dramatically increase or their journey times to and from Worcester and Malvern will lengthen,”he said.

The applicant says in planning statements submitted to Malvern Hills District Council that the site is within an existing built-up residential area.

“Thep resence oft hese existing dwellings suggests that the site and surrounding amenities can sustain a development of proposed residential use,” read a document submitted as part of the planning application.

Mr Smith said: “There is a need for more housing in the Malvern Hills district and we think this site would be a very good one.”

He said the land was initially earmarked in the South Worcestershire Development Plan as suitable housing land but was taken out because of the highways issue.

“We are moving towards resolving this issue,”he said.