ANGRY residents say a housing development next to a Sedgefield school could put children's safety at risk.

Sedgefield Borough Council held a site visit yesterday after which its members approved plans for four houses on the site of a derelict county council depot off Rectory Road.

The proposal includes a new access road to the development and Sedgefield Primary School, replacing a narrow lane.

Ann Harris, whose six-year-old son attends the school, fears that the inevitable increase in traffic on the road will prove dangerous for children walking to and from building.

Mrs Harris, who owns a garage next to the site, believes her customers, new residents and parents would all use the road, creating a risk for children using a narrow footpath.

She said: "I'm really concerned about this, because I think there is going to be an accident there. A child is going to be seriously injured, or there is going to be a death."

But Sedgefield Borough Council has rejected the residents' claims, saying road safety has been considered.

A spokesman for the council said: "Long discussions have taken place with county council highway officers regarding the layout to maximise safety.

"Current access to the depot and the school has no footpath. The new access will have a footpath and traffic- calming measures."

Cheryl Colling, who lives in Rectory Row, echoed her neighbours' road safety concerns.

She has worries about privacy, saying the new development will overlook her home, is in a conservation area and would be more suitable for a car park.

She said: "This decision is ridiculous. I haven't even got the words. I'm just too angry because I can't believe it could go through."

She said parents of children at the school should have been consulted more widely.

But the council spokesman said: "We are removing an eyesore development and replacing it with high-quality, sensitively designed dwellings that will enhance the area.

"We did put notices in the papers, on the site and had meetings with the headmaster and the school.

"As regards parents, we have no knowledge of who goes to the school, and it would be up to the school to inform them.