APPROVAL has been given for up to ten new homes opposite Luctonians Rugby Club in Kingsland.

Herefordshire Council's Planning Committee heard from residents about their concerns for road safety if the scheme of three and four bedroom houses was given approval.

The access to the site would be on the A4110 but further north than the Luctonians site access.

Carol Sawyers, from the parish council, said they object to the scheme as it is outside the settlement boundary in their Neighbourhood Development Plan, which is at the stage of independent examination.

She said highways safety was a serious concern due to the speed of vehicles and the number of accidents on the road.

But the developer's agent said there is a shortage of new homes being built in the village.

He also said that there is more than adequate visibility either side of the proposed access.

Cllr Sebastian Bowen, ward member for the area, said Luctonians is a very busy club and added, "There is enough danger there already and we don't want to add to it."

Cllr Len Tawn agreed- he said he lives near the site and that it is a very busy road, where drivers rarely adhere to the 40mph speed limit.

But planning officer, Andrew Banks, said that a traffic speed survey was carried out over seven days which showed the average speed recorded was less than 40mph. He said the 85th percentile drove slightly above it.

He said available accident data indicated two serious accidents in the vicinity over the last five years but that these were both due to driver error, and not the layout of the road.

Ten voted in favour of the outline application, while four were against and two abstained. Approval is subject to a condition to agree traffic calming measures.