CONCERNS over heavy lorries driving along narrow country lanes have prompted a closer look at a planning application.

Edward Robinson has applied to turn part of Home Farm, St Peter’s Lane, Bes-ford, near Pershore, into a lorry park for his agricultural haulage firm. It was due to go to a vote last Thursday and planning officers at Wychavon Disrict Council had recommended approval.

But after a heated debate and opposition from neighbours, councillors agreed to defer a decision until after they had visited the site.

Opponents to the plan have employed a professional consultant to carry out a tracking survey of lorries.

They say it shows there is not enough space for big trucks to negotiate tight bends in the narrow country lanes. However, highways engineers have raised no objections.

Len Miller, on behalf of more than 100 people from Besford and Defford opposing the application said people were mystified why in a previous application the bid was recommended for refusal because of the threat to the roads from the trucks.

He said “Highways engineers said St Peter’s Lane was not up to taking lorries. Nothing has changed.”

He added in the last two years there had been several “near misses” and drivers “put in the hedge” by oncoming trucks.

Mr Miller also claimed the lorries’ use of the roads “was 24/7”, despite the applicant saying their trucks left on Mondays and returned only on Fridays.

Richard Alexander, the applicant’s agent, said an agreement would be signed limiting the number of lorries, their routes to and from the farm and their maximum tonnage.

Councillor Ron Davis - who said he had known the Robinsons years, said the no 382 bus service ran hourly along the same roads, “but nobody complains about that”.

Coun Margaret Rowley said a similar business in her ward “causes a great deal of trouble” and she moved for a deferment.