FURIOUS Winyates residents claim Redditch councillors rubber-stamped controversial plans for a home for adults with learning difficulties just months after deeming it inappropriate for the area.

Residents in Hentland Close feel the council's planning committee did not listen to their objections to the proposals when they were reconsidered - and then approved - in July.

The plans were originally refused in January after it was decided the home would be inappropriate and detrimental to the area.

However, just six months later, with work to convert the five-bedroom bungalow already underway, permission was finally granted.

One resident, who did not wish to be named, thinks the decision was a "foregone conclusion."

"We collected more than 200 signatures against the plans yet it feels as if our feelings have been ignored. It is just in the wrong area."

Concerns included the home being close to neighbouring Roman Way First School and nursery as well as increased congestion on the road, noise and a reduction in privacy.

Neighbour John Oakes added: "We are really annoyed. It was approved on a matter of planning and our feelings were not taken into consideration.

"It is not the right place and not in the right area. We appreciate there has got to be a home for these people but it should be somewhere more suitable."

But council planning officer Kevin Jones said: "The revised planning application proposing the change of use for 4, Hentland Close, Winyates, was considered by the planning committee of July 19 to have addressed the previous reasons for an earlier application refusal."