PLANS to build homes on a derelict tyre depot have been opposed by town councillors over concerns despite about flooding and the impact on the street scene.

The application for the former ATS site in Commercial Street, Norton, includes six four-bedroom houses and four three bedroom homes with amenity areas and landscaping.

A previous application for the land for 62 properties was approved by the district council’s planning committee in January 2015 despite a number of objections from neighbours.

Norton’s deputy mayor, Councillor Antony Croser, said: “Even though it is a considerably less houses, I don’t think these type of properties fit into the street scene of Commercial Street.

“The plans refer to a ‘village type of setting’ while this is clearly in the centre of Norton. We want to see something done with the site, but I would rather see a type of town house on there. I also don’t think it is in keeping with the conservation area.

Cllr Di Keal said she was concerned about the flood risk.

“It baffles me why anyone would want to build homes on a flood zone which is so close to the river and even though the plans are for less homes it will still have an impact on the sewers in the town which are already stretched to capacity,” she said.

Cllr Hugh Spencer said he was concerned about the impact of extra traffic. “The road has already become more congested since the alterations to the Church Street and this will only increase the number of traffic movements.”

Norton Mayor Ray King said that with three or four bedrooms for each property this could also mean at least a couple of cars per household. However we should also consider that there was always traffic coming in and out when ATS was there.”

Councillors agreed to write to the district council recommending the application was refused.