RESIDENTS of a Cookley cul-de-sac are concerned major housing development plans nearby will cause road congestion and safety issues.

The Crescent, off the A449 Wolverhampton, forms an access road to the former Lea Castle Hospital site where 600 homes are planned to be built.

Vistry Partnerships, previously secured a £23m contract with Homes England to build the houses on the land which has been derelict since 2008.

Now, residents fear that their "peaceful" estate could see hundreds of cars travel along a "narrow" road during development and after, and have also highlighed concerns about safety and pollution.

Former nurse at Lea Castle Hospital, Linda Blakemore, said: "There's going to be a build up of traffic from cars waiting to turn out on to the A449 which is a 50 mile per hour road.

"Drivers already take their life in their hands at the junction. We have seen so many accidents."

The group say there's also a plan to add double yellow lines to the road leading to the site.

Kidderminster Shuttle:

Resident Nigel Sadler said: "This has never been the main access road. The traffic levels are completely different now.

He says an alternative would be to widen the access road at the Park Gate Lane, which residents say was used as the main entrance into the former hospital site.

He added: "We have lived in this very nice and peaceful cul-de-sac for years. We were hoping they would keep us as a cul-de-sac.

Resident Gill Hill said: "We are out on a limb. What about the character of our village?"

The group of residents accepted the need for new homes to be built in the area.

James Warrington, division managing director of Vistry Partnerships said: "We are very pleased to be working in partnership again with Homes England to transform this derelict site that has been redundant for a number of years.

"The development will provide a range of new homes, enhance the existing landscaping, introduce a proposed new cycle lane linking into Broadwaters and improve the existing road widths/layout.

"Ongoing discussions are happening with Worcestershire County Highways with regards to inclusion of double yellow lines in the development.

"Working with all stakeholder groups is essential during the construction on any of our sites and accordingly we continually endeavour to cause least impact to our neighbours.”