FEARS over drivers' safety have forced proposals for a housing development in St John's, Worcester, to be turned down.

Worcester City Council yesterday endorsed worries of nearly 150 residents who petitioned against the plans for five homes to be built in Fern Road.

The authority's planning committee said the view from the site exit could be obscured by parked cars and nearby bus stops.

Councillor Francis Lankester said he was surprised the council's highways engineers had not lodged any complaint over the scheme.

"Without having seen some reasoned argument and evidence as to why highways has accepted this, I've to say I have some qualms over accepting it myself," he explained.

Planning manager, Peter Yates, told the committee that highways officers had assessed the plans and found there were no problems with visibility.

His recommendation was for committee members to support the plans to replace a derelict Victorian house, on the corner of Fern Road near the junction with Comer Gardens, with two semi-detached houses and one detached.

But councillors pressed ahead with their objection, voicing other concerns about plans for landscaping on the site and the number of dwellings.