A PLAN to build a new industrial estate in Droitwich was given the go-ahead despite worried neighbours raising concerns about noise and pollution from an influx of lorries.

The plan to build a 32-unit industrial estate on brownfield land off Salwarpe Road in Droitwich was backed by Wychavon District Council's planning committee last week (February 6) despite residents fearing the extra traffic would damage an area already plagued by noisy lorries.

A total of 23 objections were made against the plan largely concerned by the added noise, light and air pollution from the new units on top of existing pollution from the existing industrial estates and railway line.

Some objections also questioned whether the new industrial estate was needed in the town.

Cllr George Duffy, who represents Droitwich West, said: "It is a site that has been disused for a while and I am very happy to see it return to industrial use in quite a key focal point for anyone coming into the town via train.

"It being a lower angle than the adjoining residential [area] just west of there, it seems ideally located."

The land has previously flooded but the Environment Agency was happy to let the building go ahead as long as some preventative measures were put in place at the lowest point of the site.

Cllr Alex Sinton, who represents Droitwich East, said Salwarpe Road was notorious for speeding and was getting worse.

He asked whether the council would be installing traffic calming measures but was told there was no correlation between cars speeding and building more industrial units.

Council highways officers said traffic calming measures did not usually work with lorries and heavy goods vehicles near industrial sites.

A plan to build 34 homes on the land was refused by the council in December 2015 and an appeal was dismissed in September 2016.

The plan was backed unanimously by 14 votes to nil with one abstention.