Developers have been given the right to go ahead with a project deemed a potential traffic danger by objectors.

District councillors failed to make a decision recently and had to convene a site meeting this Monday.

Newtec Developments had submitted an application to build a five-bedroom/three reception-room bungalow on land enclosed by the back gardens of houses on Mudford Road, Glenthorne Avenue and Ashford Grove, Yeovil.

A previous application had been refused (on character and highway safety grounds) but eventually approved on appeal. Developers held fire, however, and applied again in the hope that permission would be given for a larger development.

Many people living in adjoining properties had registered their disapproval, saying, for example, the development would be too imposing on the area and also pose a traffic danger.

Access to the site is via a grass lane from Glenthorne Avenue, and some members of the council's Area South Committee had expressed concern that the lane was very narrow and in very close proximity to a traffic calming arrangement put in place since the appeal was heard.

The track is located opposite the entrance to Milford School, which would effectively make it part of a four-way crossing if plans go ahead.

The developers had two representatives at the site meeting, who explained that their application was in line with government guidelines to build on brownfield land. They took issue with chairman Tony Fife's assertion that the proposed development was 30 per cent larger than the one already permitted, saying there was only a slight difference in terms of size.

A highway authority representative attended the meeting and was asked by Councillor Fife why no objections were raised as the traffic calming arrangement indicated the stretch of road was unsafe.

Mike Bellamy explained that such arrangements were part of a general policy to reduce speed outside all schools in the county.

Councillor Dave Gladding did not say if he was satisfied with the traffic situation or not, but declared that things would not get any worse by the addition of the one bungalow and the track leading to it.

Referring to the previous refusal, Councillor John Vincent Chainey commented: "If it was wrong then, it is wrong now."

Councillor Fife summed up by saying the committee must be seen to be consistent, but added that another lost appeal could have financial implications that would affect ratepayers.

Councillor Gladding proposed conditional approval in line with the planning officer's recommendation. The vote that followed finished 7-3 in favour.