ANGER over the access to 37 proposed new houses in Bedale was growing yesterday amid fears that an even larger development could be approved by planners.

Campaigners, who said the access was dangerous in its present form, believe it could eventually be used by traffic generated by more than 100 new homes if allotments between Masham Road, Grange Road and Pasture Drive are sold for redevelopment.

The latest meeting of Bedale Town Council was told that the results would be catastrophic unless an alternative access to and from Masham Road, called for by campaigners, was agreed with planners.

The development control committee of Hambleton District Council has deferred for a second time a decision on the scheme by Persimmon Homes for 37 houses, so that independent highway engineers can investigate issues surrounding access.

Protestors, who have collected 300 names on a petition, said the access as proposed would channel dangerous volumes of extra traffic along Grange Road and Pasture Drive, on a nearby estate, and into Firby Road. The road serves a leisure centre, a health centre, a primary school with 300 pupils and a nursing home.

A bungalow fronting Masham Road has been bought by Persimmon and will be demolished to make way for new homes, but residents said the space should be used for a safer access, involving a roundabout.

Highway engineers commissioned by Persimmon have concluded that a Masham Road access cannot meet Department of Transport criteria for projected traffic flows.

The town council was told that land next to the proposed housing site was occupied by allotments. This land was owned by the Church Commissioners, who were looking to relocate the allotments, and the site was suggested for housing in the local development framework.

Residents' spokesman Brian Hall told councillors that the size of the allotments had led to fears that more than 100 homes could be built.

Councillor Bob Pocklington said: "Not only will it be catastrophic if this plan goes through and they build on the site of the bungalow, but we must send out the strongest possible message to our councillors. There is an access opportunity here that cannot be put right in the future."

At least 100 residents are expected to attend a special meeting on the estate, on Friday