New flats plan meets with anger from neighbours

But neighbours, who are still reeling from a decision last year to allow 24 homes to be built on a piece of sold cemetery land off Blays Lane, say the character of their road is being ruined.

Neighbour John Denwood said: "It was a lovely quiet lane but now it's getting busier and busier.

"I think it's a disgrace because we don't know yet how the traffic from the cemetery development is going to effect us. I've measured that road and at it's narrowest it is 10ft 7inches wide - it can't take anymore traffic.

"We have lots of children riding up and down the lane on their bikes, and crossing in on their way to school - it's a lane not a road and we don't want more cars."

Alan Fone, who is chairman of the Englefield Green Village residents Association and a close neighbour of the site, said: "The traffic consultant we hired when we were opposing the development in the cemetery raised issues with the narrowness of the road. That development isn't even built yet so we have had no chance to see what sort of impact it will have yet, but they suggest building another development."

He added: "Blays Lane is not a lane anymore, which is very sad."

In a design and access statement for the development, the applicant said that the residents of the sheltered accommodation would not be likely to have cars and that eight parking spaces will be provided for the flats at the back of the development.

The statement continued: "The proposed design will make a valuable contribution to the social housing stock a and maximise the use of a brownfield urban site."