A controversial planning application to build four houses has finally been given the go-ahead despite mass objection from the community.

42 letters objecting the plans were received, raising concerns about increases in traffic and the removal of green space which supports the local wildlife.

Cllr Mike Chaplain said: “These are basically good houses, but the feelings of residents living around about is that there are too many of them on this plot, but the inspectorate is basically saying that you can have that number of houses if you put in certain measures.”

The four houses will be built on the plot at 45A Brooklands Avenue after repeat applications, with one past application still expecting a reply from the planning inspector.

After being told that two or three houses may be viewed more favourably by the council another application for 5 houses was submitted and quickly denied.

Cllr Chaplain said he would be supporting the application with ‘some reluctance’.

Cllr Roger Davison expressed worry about the safety of children, and that the width of the road could put them at risk of conflicting with oncoming vehicles.

He added, talking about the width of the road: “That’s the only entry and exit point, if there’s a fire for example where do they escape to?”

The current application is very similar to the last application which was denied, with the site layout remaining the same and some minor changes to features such as the parking.

Cllr Garry Weatherall said: “If an application in last July is still pending, we don’t know what he’s going to say, we’re putting a lot of weight of what was said in the previous application.

Shouldn’t we really wait to find out that decision of the planning inspector before this came to us anyway?”

Conditions have been put in place to answer concerns, such as making sure the site is not occupied by protected species, that trees on the site are protected, and that there are plans for surface water drainage.