CONCERNED residents persuaded council planners to vote against a new estate in their rural village.

Nearly half a dozen people from Allithwaite convinced members of South Lakeland District Council's Planning Committee to reject proposals for the 18 homes off Jack Hill.

Councillors debated for three hours in December but deferred their decision on grounds of site layout, pedestrian safety and traffic management.

MORE TOP STORIES: The plan was blasted at that meeting by Cllr Janette Jenkinson after hearing social housing homes were to be separated from other houses.

Revised plans were drawn up by the applicants, including bringing the social housing closer into the site and breaking them up into two blocks of three, as well as creating a 'landscape buffer' between the development and an existing home.

But it was not enough to persuade members to vote in favour of the plan.

"They had the chance and opportunity to make this into a super site where everybody would feel wanted," said Cllr Jenkinson. "I still find this unacceptable in this day and age."

Valerie Kennedy, who lives on nearby Kirkhead Road, said the proposed development raised concerns over the narrowness of the service road, the lack of a safe pedestrian route to the primary school, playing fields, shop, post office, church and community centre as well as potential flooding at Beckside.

Eric Livingstone said: "You just need to look at the list of fudges, tweaks, alterations and amendments that have been tried but in all honesty whatever is attempted just will not work."

Mr Livingstone also read out a statement from Peter Nightingale, secretary of the Grange and District Action Group (GADAG), which said: "The planning committee owe a duty of care to the residents they represent. To permit the granting of an application that has a very poorly designed site access may very well contravene that duty."

Graham Coates, for applicants Applethwaite Homes, said: "We have taken on board concerns raised and feel the redesign of the affordable housing element overcomes some of the concerns."

Members were split over their decision with Cllr Sylvia Emmott casting the deciding vote.

Cllr Bharath Rajan said: "If our experts say there are no problems, who are we as laymen to disagree, do we have any ground to say we are better judges?" And Cllr John Holmes added: "My principal objection last time was the siting of the affordable houses and I am quite satisfied that has been fully addressed."

But Cllr Brenda Gray disagreed, saying: "The traffic situation at the moment is not ideal so to build more houses will exacerbate that."

Cllr David Williams said rejecting their officer's recommendation to approve would potentially open up the council to a costly appeal.

"We will be wasting local taxpayer's money by denying this application," he said.