CONTROVERSIAL plans to build 131 houses and office blocks on the land behind the Alexandra Hospital have been given the go-ahead.

The development, with associated road changes and subject to some conditions, was approved at a Redditch Council meeting last week.

Resident Julie Parry spoke of her concerns for the safety of those living on Nine Days Lane, the only access route, and a road already used by hospital visitors as an informal car park due to the charges for the hospital car park.

Speaking after the meeting she said she and other residents were very disappointed with the decision.

She said: "The majority of us don’t have a problem with the housing development as such, it is the issues with road safety that are our major concerns – both where Nine Days Lane joins Woodrow Drive, and where the new estate will join Nine Days Lane."

She urged residents experiencing any kind of incident on Nine Days Lane, whether it be a slide into the kerb, knocking a wing mirror, or contact with another vehicle, to report it to the council.