PLANS for a holiday home development have been given the go ahead despite fears for road safety in the area.

The application to convert farm buildings into four holiday homes at Nant Gwilym Farm between Bodfari and Tremeirchion was approved by members of Denbighshire’s planning committee.

The plans will see the conversion of traditional stone agricultural outbuildings to four holiday let units as well as alterations to the vehicular access and associated developments.

But Bodfari Community Council had objected to the plans while the Vale of Clwyd Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) welcomed the proposals.

The community council wrote to the committee to say that it fears the access to the site would not be suitably visible from the road.

It also raised concerns that there will not be adequate parking at the site.

Speaking in favour of the applications, Jamie Bradshaw an agent acting for the applicants, said: “The main objections are on highways grounds on the basis that the community council feel it would have a harmful impact on the operation of the health and safety of the highway due to an increase in vehicle movements, inadequate visibility at the entrance, a lack of capacity on the highway and a lack of parking.

"Whilst it’s accepted that the level of visibility at the site entrance does not meet TAN 18 standards, the proposal would improve the access and provide an adequate level of visibility onto the highway.”

Cllr Merfyn Parry also raised concerns that the road on which the development would take place was busy and the site entrance would be concealed making the plans dangerous for road users.

He said: “My issue is the highways on it. We need to be consistent as we do with others. It’s a road that I use regularly and I would say it’s a very busy road, it says in the report that it’s a quiet road but it is a bit of a rat run for everybody from Tremeirchion to Rhuallt.

"It’s also used by cyclists an awful lot."

He added that he felt having the development entrance on the busy road would be dangerous and contrary to the Welsh Government advice contained in Technical Advice Note 18 (TAN).

However officers said that the entrance was already used for the farm and they did not foresee any dangers arising from the development.

A report to councillors said: "Although the visibility splays do not meet standards laid out in TAN 18, consideration has been given to the existing use as a farm and the likely vehicle movements associated with this operation in addition to the low traffic volumes on the highway.

"Therefore it is not considered there are any highway safety related issues arising from the development.”

Councillors voted by 15 votes to three in favour of granting planning permission.