NINE new homes are set to be built beside a village rugby ground and playing field, despite residents’ traffic safety fears.

Forest planners have given the go ahead for the New Road scheme on a field beside Bream Rugby Club.

Objecting to the application from Lewis Taylor developments of Caerphilly, village resident Stewart Hemsley said: “New Road is very narrow at the point where the proposed new junction is situated.

“There is only a very narrow pavement on one side of the road which is used by children and mothers with young children en route to and from the village school. 

“There is already a hazard with many parked cars and adding a junction will only make this situation worse close to the war memorial junction.”

West Dean Parish Council also voiced concerns about access onto “an already congested narrow pinch point.”

The Forest’s planning committee gave full approval for seven three-bedroom and two four-bedroom homes after hearing that Gloucestershire highways officers had raised no objection to the scheme, and a cattle grid would be laid down to prevent sheep and wild boar entering the site.