Children and the elderly are at risk on a road where developers plan to build 56 more houses, a neighbour has warned.

But council highways officers have backed the plans saying they pose no extra danger.

Property developer Elivia Homes’s plans to build a new estate at 33 Barkham Ride have approved by Wokingham Borough Council. But Hugh Reid, who lives opposite the site, said high volumes of speeding traffic meant the country road is ‘already a nightmare.’

He told councillors: “Many of us have had near misses driving out into busy traffic.

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“This situation also poses significant dangers to any Bohunt school children and elderly walkers crossing Barkham Ride.”

He added: “Cycling is there for the brave or foolish and is mostly avoided. In fact our grandchildren are actually banned from cycling to visit us.”

Council highways officers said that the new development would only increase the volume of traffic by two per cent. They said this would be ‘light traffic associated with residential development.’

Barkham Ride residents also asked the council to consider the impact of several other proposed developments – including another of 26 homes at 31 Barkham Ride.

But council planning officers said as these hadn’t been approved, they couldn’t be taken into account.

But they said they did consider the cumulative impact of all the developments. And they said that if the development at 33 Barkham Ride was approved, it would become a ‘material consideration’ affecting other planning proposals in the area.

The plans were approved at Wokingham Borough Council’s planning committee on Wednesday, March 13.