CONCERNS have been raised about the safety of the only junction serving Dursley’s Littlecombe development.

District planners are currently considering an application by St Modwen Developments to build a further 92 homes on the site, but the plans have come under fire over fears about highway safety.

At the moment the Littlecombe site has just one entrance off Kingshill Lane.

However, local people have said Kingshill Lane’s junction with Lister Road, which serves Littlecombe, cannot cope with any more traffic.

The junction already handles the cars from Alexandra Close, as well as the traffic from the Littlecombe Business Park and the Vale Community Hospital.

Concerns have also been raised about the difficulties facing motorists turning onto Kingshill Road.

Objecting to the application Joseph Harding, from Cam, said: "The infrastructure of the area is overburdened already. The geography of Dursley with its narrow valley makes congestion difficult to manage. Adding more dwellings simply exacerbates the problems."

Rachel Whitworth, of Cam, said: "I am also concerned if the road layout can cope with an increase in the volume of traffic. To access the main route in and out of Dursley from the development, you would have to use Kingshill Lane.

"This is already a busy route and becoming increasingly hazardous with a rise in the amount of traffic."

The application, which is due to be decided by Stroud District Council’s development control committee later this month, has also faced objections from Gloucestershire County Council’s Highways department.

The authority said: "Insufficient information has been submitted to enable the Local Planning Authority to satisfactorily determine whether a safe and suitable access for all people can be provided."

Both Cam and Dursley councils have asked planning bosses at Stroud to look closely at the Kingshill Lane/Lister Road junction and problems faced by drivers turning from Kingshill Road.

Under the original outline planning consent only 101 homes were allowed to be built at Littlecombe before a new spine road had to be built through the site connecting Kingshill Lane to Long Street.

A spokesman for St Modwen said: "The planning application at Littlecombe will be determined by Stroud District Council in mid-August, including all necessary infrastructure works."