CONTROVERSIAL proposals for a 130-home housing development in Thornbury have been given the green light for the second time.

The Land West of Gloucester Road, put forward by developer Ainscough Strategic Land, was originally approved by South Gloucestershire Council last August, but planning permission was withdrawn early this year after campaigners in the town obtained a legal opinion that councillors had been ‘seriously misled’.

Meeting today at Turnberrie’s Community Centre in Thornbury, SGC’s development (west) committee approved the revised plans, voting nine in favour and four against.

The 130-home site also offers space for allotments and footpaths as well as a widened area of Morton Way at the Gloucester Road junction to provide a left-turn only lane.

Approval also means the developer would make a contribution of more than £178,000 towards transport improvements on the A38, widening the footpath on Gloucester Road to include a cycleway.

A contribution will also be made of more than £312,000 towards outdoor sports and an estimated £800,000 community infrastructure levy contribution.

Following the decision, an Ainscough Strategic Land spokesman said: “I am delighted that committee members have supported the recommendation of their planning officers and have once again resolved to grant planning consent for our application.

“Throughout the determination process we have worked hard with officers to produce an application which is sensitive to the local character of Thornbury whilst also providing 130 much-needed new homes, including 46 affordable homes.”

Roger Hall, co-chairman of residents’ action group TRAPP’D (Thornbury Residents Against Poorly Planned Development), the group that previously helped to block the proposals, said they were ‘not overly surprised’ by the decision, but highlighted concerns about the safety of traffic at the junction.

“Whilst it is true that the peak traffic period on this section of Gloucester Road is between 6.30am to 8am on weekday mornings, no consideration has been taken regarding the high number of HGVs trundling backwards and forwards all day to/from the adjacent building sites.”

He suggested that transport officers visit the section of Gloucester Road and stand on the white line in the middle of the carriageway ‘and see how long they last’.

“It is particularly frustrating when local residents with local knowledge flag up serious issues on health and safety grounds that council officers are so dismissive,” he said.

“It is only a matter of time before there is a serious accident, but that appears to be the criteria on which safety decisions are based!”