FLATS which were branded a "death trap" before they are even built have been given the go-ahead.

The development in Chipping Sodbury, which is just metres from a primary school and two nurseries, won the backing of South Gloucestershire Council at a planning meeting on Thursday.

Councillors gave the green light for the new homes near St John’s Mead Primary School and nursery and the First Steps Nursery, despite concerns that Hounds Road is an accident waiting to happen.

Steve Doidge, of Hounds Close, said: "To add another nine homes in that single road is really a death waiting to happen.

"I am absolutely amazed that no one has been killed already. I would hate to be stood there saying I told you so when someone has died but at some point someone is going to be seriously hurt unless the road is pedestrianised or turned into a one-way street."

Garages and workshops in a small yard where Hounds Road becomes a single lane will be demolished to make way for the six one-bedroom and three two-bedroom flats.

No parking spaces have been allocated for the owners of the new homes. Cllr Linda Boon (Lib Dem, Chipping Sodbury) told the Gazette: "It was agreed a bollard would be put up at the entrance to stop drivers going in there.

"The owners will either have to park on the High Street or not have a car. It is easy to get transport from there as you can either walk to Cotswold Way or the High Street to catch a bus.

"You could not really ask for a more sustainable place."

She added: "The council’s highways department has said it is looking into doing some traffic calming there and there has been talk of making it one-way or pedestrianising it.

"There has not been the money before but money from this development will give highways a bit of a boost to do the traffic calming sooner."