HOUSES will be built close to a school in Yate, despite vehement opposition from local councillors.

Outline plans for 23 homes, consisting of 15 three-bedroom, six two-bedroom and two one-bedroom units, were given the go ahead last week even though the site on Broad Lane is the main thoroughfare for school pupils.

A large number of students at nearby Brimsham Green School are said to use the existing footpath, behind the development site, every morning and afternoon.

The plans, re-submitted by Rosemead Homes following the rejection of a previous application, will see the footpath diverted straight through the new residential estate. Any changes to where the existing cycle path meets the development's access point on Broad Lane will be made at a later date to ensure cyclists and pedestrians have priority.

Cllr Mike Robbins, who represents Yate North on South Gloucestershire Council, said he was "bewildered" by the proposals.

He said: "At the moment it is the safest route to schools for kids around. Yet we are going to stick 23 houses in there without any protection for when people living there will be coming out to get their children to school at exactly the same time.

"And the number of cars which hammer down adjacent Randolph Avenue in excess of 60mph is quite phenomenal.

"I do not see that we have made any significant alterations to the plan to protect those children."

Cllr Robbins added that as Yate Outdoor Sports Complex and a youth club were only 100 metres away, a number of children would be constantly accessing the housing estate leading the way for what he called "potential problems".

Cllr Alan Lawrance, (Yate North) said: "The area is used by a lot of young people, who are not always as aware of others as far as traffic is concerned. There is quite clearly a fundamental problem here, which is potentially dangerous, particularly to young people.

"Perhaps all potential buyers of the homes should be told a footpath has been diverted right through their small estate. As a town councillor, I can imagine receiving lots of complaints from residents about children walking through there."

Senior engineer for the council, Ali Khayatian, said the diversion was not an unusual arrangement for such a new development.

He added that visibility onto Randolph Avenue from Broad Lane would be improved. He said: "As it is part council-owned land, the council has the power to reduce trees to improve visibility in that area. It is almost our duty to improve this junction for existing users."

Despite South Gloucestershire Council receiving a number of letters from existing residents opposed to the plans, no representatives spoke at the development control (east) planning meeting in Kingswood last week.

Details on the type of homes to be built on the land will now be decided in a separate application to the council.