PLANS to build 30 apartments in a picturesque village have met with opposition from the local community.

Villagers from Shotley Bridge, near Consett, fear the plan to develop land on Snows Green Road will increase traffic.

They fear this will jeopardise road safety and could pose a risk to pupils from Shotley Bridge Junior School.

Derwentside District Council has received 24 individual letters of objection from residents and community organisations.

Councillor Keith English, ward member for Benfieldside, has lodged his opposition to the plan.

He said: "Road safety is quite bad at the minute and it is terrible at 3.30pm when the school comes out.

"There are a lot of cars parked by the side of the road and it is quite narrow and bendy.

"There is always the potential for an accident and this will just make it worse."

The council has also received protests from Shotley Bridge Village Community Trust and Shotley Bridge Junior School.

Objectors also say it will spoil their view of the countryside and removing trees to make way for the development would have a negative impact on the conservation area.

Derwentside District Council is considering the planning application from County Life Homes.

The developers' director Mike Pattison said: "We would be willing to consider speed signage and traffic calming, such as flashing lights to help road safety fears.

"It is generally a quiet road and only gets busy during school times.

"You could argue it needed something doing anyway, whether we build 30 apartments or not."

The council's development control committee met yesterday to discuss the proposal. They will visit the site at 8.45am next Thursday and are expected to make a decision on November 3.