A COUNCIL committee has been criticised for approving one scheme but refusing another on the same site in Leominster.

Herefordshire Council's planning committee last month gave the go ahead to a scheme for 12 new homes on land off Ginhall Lane but refused a second application for 23 new homes on land at and west of West Winds, Cholstrey Road.

It was proposed that the two developments would have shared an access point off Cholstrey Road.

But Leominster Town Council heard last week that the decision could come under scrutiny.

Councillor Clive Thomas, who spoke on behalf of the town council at the planning meeting, said: "To me they did a very foolish thing. The access is off West Winds, and they gave permission for the development off Ginhall Lane.

"I think they are in terrible trouble and it's going to cost them a lot of money."

The planning committee was told at its meeting on February 24 that developers had not engaged in discussion with Leominster Town Council or the community about the plans.

The proposed sites were not listed in the emerging Leominster Neighbourhood Plan (LANP) as potential future sites for development, and there were also concerns about the impact on the landscape and green corridor and road safety issues.

Pollution on the busy Bargates road was also considered a problem that could be exacerbated by future development in the town.

Councillor Felicity Norman, ward member, added: "The reason is that they did [eventually] listen to very good representation from the town and the Civic Society, stressing traffic concerns, pollution and our wish to protect the green corridor which incorporates those fields. It's an odd situation."