VILLAGERS were left disappointed in the planning system after housing estate plans which will move a major road six metres closer to their homes was approved.

South Oxfordshire District Council’s planing committee gave Avant Homes permission for the 100-home scheme in Crowmarsh at a meeting on Monday night.

As part of the new entrance to the estate of the A4074, the busy road will be widened 6m towards Robert Sparrow Gardens – a plan which residents had described as ‘unbelievable’.

Following Monday’s decision, Crowmarsh parish councillor Steve Sherbourne said: “I’ve got to say I’m disappointed.

“The committee passed the application seven votes to two, but nobody mentioned the six metres. They all liked the junction.”

Residents of Robert Sparrow Gardens had said the noise from the A4074 already echoed around the estate at all hours.

Locals were also worried that expanding the road to help cope with extra traffic from the estate would not do anything to improve the A4074’s poor safety record.

In July last year, Wallingford plasterer Wayne Curran was killed at the Berinsfield roundabout; Crowmarsh barman Kevin Johnson was killed in a crash on the A4074 the year before, and there are frequent collisions involving cars and bikes near the village.

But Avant Homes, which is building the estate on land to the west of the A4074 opposite Robert Sparrow Gardens, said the new junction would actually improve the road, ‘enabling a reduction in queues and delays’.

Avant has also included plans for a traffic light-controlled toucan crossing over the A4074 which Mr Sherbourne said was the ‘one good thing’ about the plan.

Oxfordshire County Council’s highways team had no objections to the plan.

Speaking of its transport assessment for the new junction, Avant said: “The proposed site access has also been shown to result in a significant improvement in terms of both capacity and safety.

“The proposed access will enable a reduction in queues and delays at Cox’s Lane as well as providing a suitable means of access to the site.

“The proposals are therefore considered to be of equal benefit to the development and the local community.”